March 27, 2006 – Ten days ago, relations between Yemen and the unrecognized republic of Somaliland were at a crisis point after several Yemeni fishermen were seized by the Somaliland coast guard and charged with illegal entry into territorial waters. The two countries still aren't out of the woods, but the incident seems to have turned into a catalyst for unprecedented cooperation. Bilateral negotiations to release the fishermen are proceeding well, and have evidently expanded to include a full-blown fisheries treaty:

The agreement includes deals on fishery cooperation, particularly in the exchange of information, investment, organizing the fishing processes, and offering training opportunities to Somali workers. The Yemeni Minister of Fisheries Mahmoud Ibrahim Saghiri signed the agreement with the Minister of Fisheries and Ports for Somaliland, Saeed Mohammad Raji.

Saghiri said that many problems would be solved by the deal, pointing out that his ministry was interested in strengthening economic and trade ties in the fishing industry, as well as to work together to stop piracy in the Red Sea. A former British protectorate in the north-west of former Somalia, Somaliland split from the rest of Somalia after a bloody civil war in 1991. Unlike much of the region in southern Somalia, Somaliland has succeeded in establishing peace and begun to rebuild the country left shattered by fierce fighting.

The conclusion of a treaty - which is something normally done between national governments - effectively makes Yemen the second state to grant de facto recognition to Somaliland. The first, Ethiopia, has dealt with Somaliland on a government-to-government level for some time, including extradition proceedings and a ports agreement. Yemen has generally had cordial relations with visiting Somaliland business delegations, it has kept the government at arm's length prior to now. The crisis over the fishermen evidently forced the Yemeni government to deal directly with its Somaliland counterpart, which led to the recognition of a common interest in demarcating borders, coordinating the use of fisheries and combating piracy (which is a significant danger along the coast of Somalia).

All these things are much easier to coordinate with a functioning government such as Somaliland rather than the dysfunctional parliament that has nominal jurisdiction over the rest of Somalia. Indeed, on the same day that it signed the fisheries agreement with Somaliland, Yemen also concluded a trade deal with an individual city in Somalia, apparently indicating that municipalities are the highest functioning level of government outside the Somaliland and Puntland enclaves. Cities can provide some trade and economic benefit but are relatively useless in fighting piracy; Somaliland, which at least has a coast guard, can help Yemen patrol the coastal waters. The level of cooperation between Somaliland and Yemen still doesn't extend to diplomatic recognition but, as with Ethiopia, it may soon include everything else.

Posted by jonathan

Source: The Head Heeb