, NAIROBI,
Kenya Jul 6 – Somaliland has hit back at Somalia for what it termed at
the latter’s bullying of her international friends. This comes in the wake of Somalia’s decision to cut
ties with Guinea who are currently hosting the President of Somaliland
Musa Bihi on official visit following an invitation by Guinea’s
President Alpha Conde.
The Somalia government says it see the invitation of the Somaliland
leader to Guinea as an “egregious violation the Sovereignty, unity and
territorial integrity of Somalia”.
This coming just a week after Somalia hit at Kenya after the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi published a tweet that seemingly
recognized the self-proclaimed independent Republic of Somaliland.
Subsequently, Somalia’s foreign ministry summoned Kenya’s ambassador
and presented him a note of protest about the “offensive tweet”.
“We consider this tweet an affront to Somalia’s sovereignty, unity
and territorial integrity as well as harmful to the relationship between
Somalia and Kenya,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
A statement from Somaliland foreign affairs ministry stated: “Somalia
government current frosted diplomatic relationship with the
international community is causing it to continue making clueless
decisions and complaints against Somaliland engagements.”
“The ongoing complaint and bullying of Guinea government is a
preemptive action to scare other countries such as Kenya from engaging
Somaliland. The International community should ignore the complaints and
continue to engage Somaliland which is a fully fledged democracy with
its president and legislature elected by popular vote. The current and
previous presidents of Somaliland have engaged and continue to engage
with other foreign countries at the highest level,” stated the
statement.
Somalia termed the visit to Guinea by Somaliland president with its
foreign minister Ahmed Isse Awad sending warnings to other countries
that were similarly “violating Somalia’s sovereignty.”
Somaliland government stated: “The Government of the Republic of
Somaliland is deeply alarmed and disheartened by the Government of
Somalia’s widening campaign of aggression towards a growing list of
African nations. At a moment when Africa’s leaders are converging upon
Niamey to find common solutions to continental peace and security
issues, and to promote further integration, the Somalia administration
has instead chosen to ratchet up its policy of threat-based and divisive
diplomacy, this time aiming its empty but provocative rhetoric against
the proud nation and people of the Republic of Guinea, solely for
engaging in routine bilateral relations with the counterpart state of
the Republic of Somaliland,” added the statement.
“The Somaliland Government would also like to express its deep regret
regarding the Somalia’s Government deliberate and offensive
mischaracterisation of the Republic of Somaliland as a ‘separatist
movement’. The Republic of Somaliland holds a deep-rooted and storied
place in African history. Somaliland came into being as a former British
protectorate, established through treaties between 1884 and 1897.”
Somaliland said the move by Somalia revealed accurately just how
desperate and weak their position was with regard to Somaliland whose
links with other African countries is growing by the day.
“The statement issued by the Somali Foreign Ministry said more about
the country’s leadership’s paranoia and obsession with doing everything
to undermine and sabotage Somaliland’s growing diplomatic and trading
links with other African countries and international investors.”
Somaliland is home to over 10,000 Kenyans with Ethiopians, Yemenis,
Indians and Turkish citizens too living and working in the country.
Somaliland is seemingly attracting more investors, something that has infuriated the Somali government in Mogadishu.
Somaliland has considerable yet untapped mineral wealth as well as
oil and gas potential, and it’s located in a vitally strategic point at
the mouth of the Red Sea where 68% of western trade with Asia passes
along its shores.
The country has been de facto independent for nearly 30 years since
breaking away from Somalia, and enjoys strong diplomatic links with
regional powers such as Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti – as well as strong
support from UK, EU and Arab powers.
Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 and has
maintained a measure of peace and stability. But the territory, which is
in northern Somalia, is not recognized by any foreign government.
Somalia insists that Somaliland is not independen
Source: Capitalfm.co.ke
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