# A uniquely successful African state **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 2, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329 "2010-07-02T18:40:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/21 "2010-07-02T19:30:07Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > The thing about Somaliland is that it’s right next to Djibouti. > > I don’t have anything to add to the discussion. I just like saying [Djibouti](http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/audio-medlineplus.pl?ggdjib01.wav=Djibouti). I’ve been to Djibouti. Like an impressionist painting, its beauty increases with distance. Preferably LOTS of distance. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/22 "2010-07-02T19:56:35Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > BTW If anyone else wants to pipe in just to say that this thread is boring/uninteresting I’ll save you the time and say that you can just get the hell out and move on to whatever the hell you normally do in life like jacking off to images of diseased yaks or whatever… 😛 Well, before you get probably get warned for that, I’d just like to point out that we aren’t children on this board, nor trained seals, so the dangling of a toy or dead fish isn’t likely to inspire a lot of positive response. I suggest in future you be direct about your debate topic and things will go a lot smoother. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/23 "2010-07-02T20:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > BTW If anyone else wants to pipe in just to say that this thread is boring/uninteresting I’ll save you the time and say that you can just get the hell out and move on to whatever the hell you normally do in life like jacking off to images of diseased yaks or whatever… Wait…where are these pictures of diseased yaks? ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/24 "2010-07-02T20:31:57Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, before you get probably get warned for that, I’d just like to point out that we aren’t children on this board, nor trained seals, so the dangling of a toy or dead fish isn’t likely to inspire a lot of positive response. I suggest in future you be direct about your debate topic **and things will go a lot smoother.** (bolding mine) What are you, the riddle mafia? Did I inadvertently insult your maturity or have I offended your sense of frankness? Duly noted and dismissed. It is my opinion that this game was entertaining, informative and relevant to pointing out Somaliland’s obscurity/international profile. You said your piece then during game-time; so, if you don’t like the debate now, you can go to another one. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/25 "2010-07-02T20:35:45Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > And what do you win?.. a congrats! 😃 Nope, not Somaliland. It does not fit the “has had it’s independence for just under 20 years” condition. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/26 "2010-07-02T20:40:32Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Nope, not Somaliland. It does not fit the “has had it’s independence for just under 20 years” condition. [I have no idea](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1361394.stm) in what you could mean by that. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/27 "2010-07-02T20:48:22Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > The thing about Somaliland is that it’s right next to Djibouti. > > I don’t have anything to add to the discussion. I just like saying [Djibouti](http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/audio-medlineplus.pl?ggdjib01.wav=Djibouti). Every time they have an earthquake, I tell the planet, “I like it when you shake Djibouti.” ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/28 "2010-07-02T20:53:09Z")
My guess is [Botswana](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana). Independent since 1966, though. EDIT: nope. No embargo against the country. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/29 "2010-07-02T20:53:38Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > You said your piece then during game-time; so, if you don’t like the debate now, you can go to another one. There’s a debate here now? What is it? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/30 "2010-07-02T20:55:04Z")
I’m glad this isn’t a thread about how great Rhodesia was. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/31 "2010-07-02T21:00:17Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > There’s a debate here now? What is it? Post #14. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/32 "2010-07-02T21:06:40Z")
Now I feel like starting a thread titled “Whither Somaliland?” which opens with a few well, formed paragraphs describing the geography, history, population and economy of the area, complete with links verifying same, and adding my personal opinion for the future of the region and some speculation on what is likely to make the situation better or worse over the next few years. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/33 "2010-07-02T21:18:13Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Now I feel like starting a thread titled “Whither Somaliland?” which opens with a few well, formed paragraphs describing the geography, history, population and economy of the area, complete with links verifying same, and adding my personal opinion for the future of the region and some speculation on what is likely to make the situation better or worse over the next few years. Don’t bother. All African threads are doomed to same racist nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![wmfellows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@wmfellows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wmfellows)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/34 "2010-07-02T21:21:37Z")
This is a crappy list > [@stpauler](#): > > Hmm, former British colonies, all of these have been independent from Britain over 20 years now: > Libya Libya was never a British colony. > [@](#): > > Erirtrea Briefly under mandate after kicking out the Italians in WWII. Somaliland > [@](#): > > Somalia Italian colony ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/35 "2010-07-02T21:23:55Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Every time they have an earthquake, I tell the planet, “I like it when you shake Djibouti.” Gotta go…I’ll be in my white supremacists bunker… ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/36 "2010-07-02T21:31:12Z")
Djibouti! Djibouti! That country’s hard to get! Djibouti! Djibouti! But you can visit it yet! ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/37 "2010-07-02T21:34:22Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I’m glad this isn’t a thread about how great Rhodesia was. Back in '77, when we were in Salisbury … ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/38 "2010-07-02T21:41:32Z")
**TWEEET!** Enough with the claims of boredom, the nasty comments about personal sexual habits, and any other bit of slop you may feel the need to toss into this thread. Either address the topic or don’t post. If one feels compelled to make insulting comments, take it to the **Pit**. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/39 "2010-07-02T21:44:33Z")
What, nothing for the OP for making this a “guess the debate” and being a bit of a twit about it? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/40 "2010-07-02T22:08:17Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Back in '77, when we were in Salisbury … Damn, I was hoping this would get Argent Towers out of the woodwork. 🙂 Elmie, there are websites that non-jokingly have such nostalgia. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329.md?page=3)