My impression based on my reading of the article was not of a state using sharia law but rather one which seeks to blend a mixture of traditional values and some of the good bits from Western democracy.

Some posts appear to suggest that that the traditional values are sharia law - is that the case? If so is the portrayal of the success by this nation in overcoming a very damaging history put by Bashir realistic?

What I read in Bashirs article sounds like good news, something for all who want solutions to the issues damaging Africato celebrate. The article seems to tell of the difference between Somalia where the current solution includes Islamic courts and Somaliland which seems to have taken a different approach.

R0bert

Is an Islamist Somaliland better than a failed Somalia? Probably. I would say that order is better than chaos, but the kind of order suggested by details like the following from the Constitution nonetheless leaves me more than a little wary.

"Article 5: Religion
1. Islam is the religion of the nation, and the promotion of any religion in the territory of Somaliland, other than Islam, is prohibited.
2. The laws of the nation shall be grounded on, and shall not be valid if they are contrary to Islamic Sharia.
3. The state shall promote religious tenets (religious affairs), and shall fulfil Sharia principles and discourage immoral acts and reprehensible behaviour.
4. The calendar shall be the Islamic Calendar based on the hijra and the Gregorian Calendar."

See http://www.somalilandgov.com/

I suppose a nation that kills all religious and political opposition will keep order and peace. None are game to speak in opposition when the death penalty is the outcome. This is not democracy, this is totalitarianism even as Nazi Germany. It seems good and idealistic in the beginning.