The office of the Somaliland Special Envoy reasserts Somaliland’s independence from Great Britain on June 26th, 1960. On May 18, 1991, Somaliland formally withdrew from its failed union with Somalia and has been separated from that country since that date.
Therefore, this office categorically refutes Somalia’s false claim of ownership of the Republic of Somaliland and its mischaracterization of the recent MoU signed by the Republic of Somaliland and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to gain port access in Somaliland is no different from the many leases that countries have made with other countries.
Hargeisa, Somaliland, January 8th, 2024: The office of the Somaliland Special Envoy categorically rejects Somalia’s recent misrepresentation of the current Mou between the Republic of Somaliland and the Federal Government of Ethiopia. Contrary to Somalia’s claims, Somaliland has consistently entered into agreements with Somalia as the independent sovereign state of Somaliland and has never been a
“federal member state of Somalia.” This principle underpins all nine agreements with Somalia, dating back to the first bilateral meeting when Her Late Majesty’s government, headed by Prime Minister David Cameron, hosted the ‘Chevening Talks’ between Somaliland and the then Transitional Federal Government of Somalia on June 20-21, 2012.
The Somaliland Special Envoy further wishes to clarify Somaliland’s position regarding agreements entered with Somalia. While Somaliland has consistently engaged in these talks in good faith to seek peaceful solutions to our differences and mutually beneficial neighborly collaboration with Somalia. Regrettably, Somalia has consistently failed to uphold its commitments in these agreements and has never honored any of the agreements it had publicly co-signed with Somaliland.
Furthermore, any suggestion that Somaliland requires Somalia’s consent for bilateral agreements is again blatantly false. Somaliland proudly maintains independent relations with numerous countries, including Ethiopia, and has successfully entered into a number of international and bilateral agreements prior to this MOU. None of these agreements sought or received consent from Somalia.
Over the past 33 years, the contrasting situations of Somaliland and Somalia speak volumes. Somaliland has emerged as a thriving democracy and a beacon of stability in the Horn of Africa, effectively managing its internal affairs, governance, and elections without international support. Our country and its coast have consistently been free of piracy, terrorism, and banditry.
By contrast, Somalia continues to need international peacekeeping forces for its own protection as it has struggled for the past 33 years with internal strife, corruption, and terrorism, which repeatedly gets referred to as a failed state by the international community. Therefore, instead of resorting to mischaracterizations and unfounded claims of ownership over Somaliland, which has often been described as a ‘Rare African Miracle, Somalia would be better advised to put its own house in order.
Surely, the international community recognizes the stark differences between the two entities and appreciates Somaliland’s contribution to the regional peace and stability of the Horn of Africa.
While Somaliland will not hesitate to defend its sovereign right to enter into independent international relations as it sees fit, we remain committed to constructive dialogue and peaceful coexistence with Somalia as a neighbor.
