(29-12-23) DJIBOUTI (Halqabsi News) — The Federal Government of Somalia and the self-declared independent region of Somaliland have agreed to resume long-stalled talks, as announced following a high-level meeting in Djibouti. The meeting, mediated by Djibouti President Ismail Guelleh, aims to resolve the prolonged dispute over Somalia’s territorial integrity.
The dialogue between Somalia and Somaliland, which declared independence in May 1991 amid the collapse of Somalia’s central government, has seen intermittent progress since 2012. Despite Somaliland’s declaration, it remains internationally unrecognised, casting a shadow over the region’s political status.
A statement from the Djibouti meeting outlined a plan to develop a roadmap for negotiations within the next 30 days and to form a technical committee to prepare for substantive talks. This approach seeks to build on a series of previous agreements reached in Ankara (April 2012 and April 2016), London (June 2012), Istanbul (January 2014 and March 2015), and Djibouti (December 2014 and June 2020).
The 2020 talks stalled, notably due to Somaliland’s insistence on being acknowledged as an independent country, demanding parity with the Federal Government of Somalia in the negotiation process.
The current initiative, led by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Somaliland President Muse Bihi, also emphasises cooperation in security matters and a commitment to refrain from any actions or statements that could jeopardise the talks.
This renewed effort, mediated by President Ismail Guelleh, is viewed as a critical step towards addressing the longstanding and complex issues that have historically plagued relations between Somalia and Somaliland.
Halqabsi News
