According to this site.
If you switched off TV transmission stations in Tanzania, only 46% of the population would howl at you, 41% in Nigeria, 28% in Ghana and 50% in Mozambique.
Dare you not try any mischief in Somaliland, the regional citadel of electronics, where the TV is a treasure to 74% of the population.
Somaliland, though being the cradle of the war-torn Somalia, has the highest number of TV and music (71 and 74%) fans in Eastern Africa.
This may seem quite trivial when you consider all that is going on in that strife ridden region, but it strikes me as an important fact. That an unrecognised African nation, with no international support or aid has managed in just 15 years to achieve peace, disarm it's militias, clear away land mines, improve it's infrastructure and introduce recognisably democratic and free elections is now at the point where TV is now available to 7 out of every 10 of the population - higher than anywhere else in the region - is significant.
Give them another 15 years and their problems won't be the usual African maladies - famine, AIDS, corruption - but western things like childhood obesity, consumerism and political apathy. At this rate, Somaliland will qualify to join the EU before Turkey.
Think what they could do if they were a recognised nation.
1 comment:
I agree it is time to recognise this country. Our MPs won't do it though but I have had an idea of how it could be achieved.
We know that councillors don't have any influence who our country recognises however if it is possible (and I don't know if it is) they can vote on a 'declaration of support' stating that they support Somaliland in their quest to be independent and recognised. Even if this turns out to be going over the powers given to councils it will certainly get the press interested who will get the public informed about it.
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