(29-12-23) GAROWE (Halqabsi News) — Puntland’s President, Said Abdullahi Deni, has voiced strong opposition to the renewed talks between the Somali federal government and the breakaway region of Somaliland, which resumed on Thursday in Djibouti.
In a statement made in Garowe, where he also announced his bid for the presidency, President Deni criticised the decision to restart discussions, highlighting Puntland’s absence from the dialogue. This move reflects Puntland’s growing unease over the federal government’s handling of the Somaliland issue.
The backdrop to this development includes escalating border disputes between Puntland and Somaliland, which have intensified tensions since February. The conflict, particularly in Las Anod town, involves the SSC-Khatumo forces and the Somaliland army, with both sides accusing each other of instigating violence.
The Djibouti talks, facilitated by President Ismail Omar Guelleh, were attended by Somaliland’s President Muse Bihi Abdi and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. These discussions are a critical part of the ongoing efforts to address the long-standing disputes between Somalia and Somaliland.
Somaliland declared its autonomy from Somalia in 1991 but has not been widely recognised as an independent state. The dialogue is considered a key step towards resolving the longstanding issues between the two regions.
Halqabsi
