Government-in-Exile

All you want to know about Government-in-Exile

A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their native country and regain power.

Governments in exile frequently occur during wartime occupation. For example, during the German expansion of the Second World War, numerous European governments and monarchs were forced to seek refuge in the United Kingdom rather than face certain destruction at the hands of the Nazis.

Contents

Current governments in exile

Governments in exile often have little or no recognition from other powers. Governments in exile currently include:

Name Exile since Country controlling its claimed territory Information References
Flag of Georgia (country) Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia 1993 Republic of Abkhazia(Internationally Unrecognized) A Georgian provincial government whose territory is currently under the control of Abkhaz separatists. It is led by Malkhaz Akishbaia.
Flag of Belarus Belarusian National Republic 1920 Republic of Belarus It is currently led by Ivonka Survilla in Toronto, Canada in a council of 14 called the Rada. See History of Belarus [1]
Flag of Burma National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma 1990 Union of Myanmar Currently led by Sein Win. It is composed of members of parliament elected in 1990 but not allowed by the military to take office. It is based in Rockville, Maryland, U.S.A.
Republic of Cabinda 1975 Republic of Angola Based in Kinshasa, the Republic of Cabinda was invaded by Angola in the year 1975. Cabinda had been a Portuguese protectorate, while Angola had been a colony.
 Chechen Republic of Ichkeria 2000 Russian Federation The government is largely based in Western Europe, Arab nations, and the United States. Some members are fighting in the rebel movement against the Russian Army
Flag of Equatorial Guinea Progress Party of Equatorial Guinea 2003 Republic of Equatorial Guinea The Progress Party of Equatorial Guinea proclaimed Severo Moto Nsá "President of Equatorial Guinea" in Madrid. [2]
Flag of Ethiopia Crown Council of Ethiopia 2005 Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia The Crown Council of Ethiopia, led by H.I.H Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie and based in the Washington D.C. area, claims that the Emperor is still the legal head of Ethiopia.
Flag of Iran Monarchy of Iran 1979 Islamic Republic of Iran The Monarchy of Iran, led by Reza Pahlavi and currently living in Potomac, Maryland, U.S.A.
Flag of Laos Monarchy of Lao 1975 Lao People's Democratic Republic The Royal Lao Government in Exile, based in the U.S.A. [3]
 Sovereign Military Order of Malta 1798 Republic of Malta Ejected from Malta by Napoleon, however it has retained its claims of sovereignty under international law and has been granted permanent observer status at the United Nations. The Order is considered to be the main successor to the medieval Knights Hospitaller and has diplomatic relations with 100 states.
 Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic 1976 Kingdom of Morocco Is headquartered in the Tindouf region in Algeria but controlling what it calls the "Free Zone" in the eastern part of Western Sahara
Flag of the Republic of Serbian Krajina Republic of Serbian Krajina 2005 Republic of Croatia Has been based since 26 February 2005 in Belgrade, Serbia by the remains of the Government of the Republic of Serbian Krajina after Croatian forces pushed out the internationally unrecognized entity in 1995 during Operation Storm at the end of the Croatian War of Independence
Flag of South Moluccas Republik Maluku Selatan 1950 Republic of Indonesia The Republik Maluku Selatan, from the South Moluccas, Indonesia, are exiled in the Netherlands since 1950
Flag of Tibet Central Tibetan Administration 1959 People's Republic of China The Central Tibetan Administration of the Dalai Lama, a government in exile (based in Dharamsala, India), which claims to represent the people of Tibet

Actions of governments in exile

International law recognizes that governments in exile may undertake many types of actions in the conduct of their daily affairs. These actions include:

  • becoming a party to a bilateral or international treaty
  • amending or revising its own constitution
  • maintaining military forces
  • retaining (or "newly obtaining") diplomatic recognition by sovereign states
  • issuing identity cards
  • allowing the formation of new political parties
  • instituting democratic reforms
  • holding elections
  • allowing for direct (or more broadly-based) elections of its government officers, etc.

However, none of these actions can serve to legitimatize a government in exile to become the internationally recognized legal government of its current locality. By definition, a government in exile is spoken of in terms of its native country, hence it must return to its native country and regain power there in order to obtain legitimacy as the legal government of that geographic area.

Past governments in exile

World War II and Cold war

Many countries established a government in exile after loss of sovereignty in connection with World War II:

The Provisional Government of Free India (1942-1945) was established by Indian nationalists in exile during the war.

Other exiled leaders in England included King Zog of Albania and Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.

Notable examples of occupied countries which retained partial sovereignty through their overseas territories included Belgium, Vichy France and Free France.

The Danish exception

The occupation of Denmark (9 April 1940) was administered by the German Foreign Office, contrary to other occupied lands that were under military administration. Denmark did not establish a government in exile, although there was an Association of Free Danes established in London. King Christian X and his government remained in Denmark, and functioned comparatively independently for the first three years of German occupation. Meanwhile, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands were occupied by the Allies, and effectively separated from the Danish crown. (See British occupation of the Faroe Islands, Iceland during World War II, and History of Greenland during World War II)

See also

References


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