Story: Sharmaake Ahmed Ismail
On Wednesday 2nd April, the Somaliland community of Sheffield gathered outside the Town Hall.
Inside at the Full Council meeting councillors highlighted that Somaliland deserves world recognition and voted to support the campaign to have Somaliland recognised as a sovereign state.
Many Burngreave residents took part in the celebrations. This was a great achievement for Somalilanders around the world but even more so for those living in Sheffield.
This has proved the importance that the Somaliland community play in engaging with the larger community of Sheffield. This engagement produced close relations with prominent politicians and councillors.
Local politicians, MPs and councillors have recognised the contribution the Somaliland community have played over the years both economically and politically.
We are proud to have the Somaliland Foreign Minister travel many miles to be part of this achievement. We are very pleased that he witnessed the promise of the MPs’ to forward the case of Somaliland recognition to the Houses of Parliament and the European Parliament.
What is more important is that we have succeeded to have local pressure groups that stand to fight for the right of Somaliland’s recognition and inspire other Somalilanders around the world to do the same.
Indeed Sheffield is a city to be proud of. Sheffield had previously supported many cases such as Kashmir, Nelson Mandela and anti-apartheid. Sheffield does not only debate on local issues but also international issues. I am proud to say I live in Sheffield and I am sure many people feel the same.
Burngreave resident, Mohamed Issa, who was one of the campaigners for Somaliland’s recognition said:
I am very happy today, Sheffield is my town and I would like to say a big thank you to Cllr Mohamed Maroof and my local councillors Cllr Jackie Drayton, Cllr Ibrar Hussain and Cllr Talib Hussain. I would also like to send special thanks to the Lord Mayor Cllr Vickie Priestley and the leader of the council Cllr Julie Dore for their support of the motion.