Case study: Situational Analysis – Somaliland
Our client's requirement
Our client, a junior oil company, wished to operate in the breakaway country of
Somaliland. While it is generally more democratic and secure than the rest of
Somalia, Somaliland does not enjoy international recognition. The company
needed
to better understand Somaliland's internal politics and to determine the
likelihood that it will eventually be accepted by the international community
and
Somaliland's neighbours as a fully sovereign state with which an international
oil
company might legitimately agree to develop its resources.
Our approach
Using the insight and expertise of a regionally-based world expert on the Horn
of Africa, who has worked with Menas Associates for over 10 years, we produced
an
extensive analysis of the current situation in Somaliland and of the outlook
for
international recognition. The report focused on key political players and
parties, and their relations with various external interests, including
regional
actors, international institutions and major western governments, identifying
those
groups and interests in favour of recognition and those strictly opposing it.
The outcome
Leveraging the expertise of our consultant and our understanding of the oil
sector in frontier markets, we provided our client with expert analysis of
Somaliland's complex clan structure and the relationship the country has with
Somalia,
Puntland, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and other interested parties. This report
enabled our client to make more informed decisions about the viability of its
commercial strategy in Somaliland and the longer-term business prospects of the
country.
Regions covered
Sub-Saharan Africa
Services provided
Situational analysis
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