VOA-22/09/2011- Somaliland plans to send a delegation to Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Saturday, in what would mark the breakaway region's first official visit there in more than 20 years. During a news conference Thursday, Somaliland Vice President Abdirahman Saylici downplayed any political significance, saying the trip is purely humanitarian. The delegation plans to deliver money to help Somali drought and famine victims. Somaliland's trade, industry and tourism minister, Abdirisaq Khalif, said his region's people have raised $700,000. A second delegation from Somaliland will visit Kenya's massive Dadaab refugee complex near the Somali border on Saturday. Dadaab is home to more than 400,000 Somali refugees.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but is not recognized by any nation. The region runs its own affairs and has existed in relative peace and stability for two decades.Somalia, in contrast, has been wracked by 20 years of chaos and conflict since warlords overthrew dictator Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991.
Source: VOA
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