Paul Patrick Borhaug

Photographer + Writer
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Stories (18)
Location: Oslo, Norway
Nationality: Norwegian
Biography: Paul Patrick Borhaug  is a photographer and writer from Norway, who primarily works on environmental, political and cultural issues. His images has been published by National Geographic, The New York Times, United Nations , Huffington Post,... read on
Public Story
Somaliland - An Unrecognised Success Story
Credits: paul patrick borhaug
Date of Work: 05/13/14 - 03/01/15
Updated: 03/26/19
Location: somaliland
Archived as:  , , ,

Following the brutal warfare of Siad Barré, Somaliland declared it independence from Somalia in 1991. Since then, Somaliland has experienced a people-led, bottom-up nationbuilding process that has taken it from bullets to ballots.

Somaliland has established a unique political system which is partly rooted in its traditional institutions and partly on western-styled institutions, based on its heritage as former British colony. Against all odds, Somaliland has managed to preserve peace for 25 years and has held several democratic elections, - “some of the freest elections on the continent”, according to international observers. Despite being one of the poorest places on earth, Somalilanders have managed to decrease levels of extreme poverty largely without the assistance of international aid. The rebuilding of Somaliland has almost entirely been based on remittances from the overseas diaspora.

Somaliland has developed itself from a ravaged, war-torn country to becoming an independent and functioning de facto state. In spite of Somaliland´s efforts, no other country in the world recognises Somaliland as a state of its own as of today. Contrary to the desire of 97,3% Somalilanders to secede from Somalia, Somaliland officially still belongs to Somalia.

Somalia is unwilling to see their northern brothers and sisters part. While Somaliland does have the sympathy of some African nations, other regional actors are preventing their case to be adressed formally by the African Union. Despite the positive findings of several fact-finding missions deployed to Somaliland by the African Union, the continental body clearly avoids enganging the issue of Somaliland in fear of stirring up turmoil on the matter of secession. Nor is it likely that the international community will recognise Somaliland, unless the AU does so first.

Despite fulfilling criterias for legal statehood and its empirical de facto statehood, Somaliland´s case for recognition remain trapped in the political deadlock of African realpolitik.




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Analoguesques

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The Matsés

By Paul Patrick Borhaug — The Matsés are an indigenous people whose territories are divided by the Brazil-Peru border in the remote Amazon. The tribe is currently..
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Street (Colour)

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The Walls Have Eyes

By Paul Patrick Borhaug — The Walls Have Eyes This project seeks to question the increasing use of surveillance technology (CCTV) in contemporary European city spaces. It is..
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The Secret of the Sahara: The Saharawi

By Paul Patrick Borhaug — (Arabic: صحراويون ‎ ṣaḥrāwīyūn; Berber:Iseḥrawiyen; Moroccan Arabic: صحراوة Ṣeḥrawa). In the barren desert landscape..
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Street/Fine Art

By Paul Patrick Borhaug
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Portraits

By Paul Patrick Borhaug — Portraits Encounters with humanity around the world. (Click on image to view individually with captions)
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Travel

By Paul Patrick Borhaug
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Feminist Wrestling in Bolivia

By Paul Patrick Borhaug — Every Sunday in El Alto, a suburb of La Paz, indigenous Aymara women dressed in bowler hats, braided hair, jewellery and traditional clothing come..
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Sabarimala Pilgrimage

By Paul Patrick Borhaug — With an estimated 45-50 million pilgrims arriving each year, the Sabarimala Pilgrimage is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world. Yet, it is..
328
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The kumhari of Dharavi

By Paul Patrick Borhaug — The Kumhari  (or Kumbhara , Kubhara , Kumar , Kumor , Kubar , Khubar ) is popularly known as a lower-caste people found all across India...
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Khat in Ethiopia

By Paul Patrick Borhaug — The End of Ethiopia´s Green Gold? Khat, or catha edulis, is a flowering plant native to the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Among..
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The Witch Village

By Paul Patrick Borhaug — In rural parts of West Africa, witchcraft remains a firm belief. When unexpected deaths in the family or community occurs, the blame is often put..
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Paradise Lost / The Guarani Kaiowà

By Paul Patrick Borhaug — Paradise Lost The name of the tribe Guarani-Kaiowá means ‘forest people’. The Brazilian state they live in, Mato Grosso do Sul, means ‘Thick..
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The Dirty Secret of the information Age - E-waste in Ghana

By Paul Patrick Borhaug
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Pataxo Hahahe

By Paul Patrick Borhaug
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