SLSUN: A prominent Swedish politician is stepping up his campaign to recognize the self-declared independent republic of Somaliland.
Markus Wiechel posted a post on his X account, formerly known as Twitter, stating that he is struggling to get Somaliland recognized.
“I have written a new article about my struggle for the re-recognition of Somaliland and the geopolitical importance of recognizing their victory,” he said in his post.
According to some Swedish media outlets, the debate over the recognition of Somaliland has sparked a heated debate between Markus Wiechel of the Sweden Democrats (SD) and Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.
Wiechel pressed the minister to clarify Sweden’s position on Somaliland and its recognition, arguing that such a move is important for Sweden’s geopolitical strategy, especially in countering China’s growing influence in the Horn of Africa.
Malmer Stenergard, for her part, stated Sweden’s commitment to supporting Somaliland’s democracy, but ruled out the possibility of recognizing its independence, while maintaining the current policy of “one Somalia”.
Who is Markus Wiechel?
Markus Wiechel (born 15 April 1988) is a Swedish politician for the Sweden Democrats. He has been a member of the Swedish Parliament since Lars Isovaara resigned on 29 November 2012.
Markus Wiechel graduated from Hickman High School (Columbia, Missouri) in 2007, and moved to his native Sweden to study Social Services at Linköping University but later graduated with a degree in Political Science.
He is the son of Swedish author and ophthalmologist Kristina Narfström, who is a professor at the University of Missouri.
He is currently a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as a deputy member of the European Union Affairs Committee. Wiechel is currently part of three international parliamentary delegations:
Wiechel is the chairman of the PACE delegation and holds the seat of vice-chairman of the council
Other leaders who have previously called for Somaliland recognition
This is not the first time a Western politician has called for the recognition of Somaliland.
US Congressman Scott Perry has introduced a new bill in the House that advocates for recognizing Somaliland as an independent country.
Bill 10402 highlights Somaliland’s decades of stability, commitment to democracy, and the strategic importance of the Horn of Africa as key reasons for US recognition.
This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. It was submitted to Congress on December 12, 2024. It will normally be considered in the next committee meeting before being forwarded to the full House or Senate.
The law represents an important step forward in Somaliland’s decades-old quest for recognition.
There was also a politician named Gavin Williamson from the UK who was also campaigning for the recognition of Somaliland.
Gavin Williamson presented the UK Parliament with a DEBATE on the independence of the independent Republic of Somaliland in early 2022.
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Somaliland is located in a strategic location in the world, and is considered a gateway to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, a location that has been closely watched by the world’s major powers.
Sourced from the BBC
