Mr. Speaker, I rise to welcome to Canada a delegation from the Republic of Somaliland led by Mrs. Edna Adan Ismail, the Minister of Family Welfare and Social Development.
Many Canadians are unaware of the existence of Somaliland, which became independent from British rule in 1960. It joined the former Italian Somalia to form the Somali Republic. The union did not last and led to a civil war from the 1980s onwards and eventually to the collapse of the Somali Republic.
After the collapse of the Somali Republic, the people of Somaliland decided to reinstate Somaliland's sovereignty. Somaliland today is a peaceful country that abides by the rules of law, which I had an opportunity to witness first-hand while there last August. It must not be confused with the strife torn violence that is continuing as we speak, in Somalia.
I would like to urge the Government of Canada to offer what assistance it can to support emerging democracies such as Somaliland and help ensure its rightful place among other stable countries of the world.