The general view appears to be that the nation is not a nation at all and therefore poses no threat to the government in Baidoa. The reason for falsifying Somaliland's political realities is to persuade the uninitiated of the international community, who have yet to be taken in by the UN public relations spin-doctor, Stephen, that Somaliland especially can be bulldozed out of existence, given UN political clout. It is simple economics. Only Berbera and Bosaso, outside the temporary government's hands in Baidoa, are engaged in serious trade. Mogadishu has a good potential, but like Kismayu they are also outside the temporary government's grasp.
Ports bring in foreign currency, especially the export of livestock.
The same year, Berbera exported 2,700,000-head of sheep and goats. In contrast, foreign currency earnings in Somalia apart from foreign incoming private remittances, is miniscule. Without reasonably substantial foreign currency earnings in Somalia, the temporary government cannot import much in the way of capital goods nor consumer goods. UN subsidies will, of course, infuriate those regions which until now have survived for a decade without UN subsidies. The other question, conveniently ignored by the conference in Djibouti and by Stephens in his reports to the Security Council, is revenue for the temporary government's proposed budget.