Somaliland accuses Somalia of ‘bullying’ her international friends

Somaliland has accused Somalia of ‘bullying’ her international friends.

This comes in the wake of Somalia’s move to cut ties with Guinea which is currently hosting Somaliland President Musa Bihi who is on a State visit to the west African country on the invitation of President Alpha Conde.

Somalia government has termed the Somaliland leader’s invitation to Guinea as a “violation the Sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Somalia”.

This comes a few days after Somalia hit at Kenya after the ministry of foreign affairs in Nairobi published a tweet that seemingly recognised the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland.

PROTEST

Somalia's foreign ministry summoned Kenya's ambassador and gave 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 read: “Somalia government current frosted diplomatic relationship with the international community is causing it to continue making complaints against Somaliland engagements.”

“The ongoing complaint and bullying of Guinea government is a pre-emptive 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.

President Bihi and his Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Isse Awad are in Guinea for a state visit. Somalia has sent warnings to other countries that are “violating Somalia’s sovereignty.”

ALARMED

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 like to express its deep regret regarding the Somalia’s 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 just how 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 Somaliland’s growing diplomatic and trading links with other African countries and international investors.”

INDEPENDENCE

Somaliland is home to over 10,000 Kenyans with Ethiopians, Yemenis, Indians and Turkish citizens too living and working in the country.

The country has been de facto independent for nearly 30 years since breaking away from Somalia in 1991.

But the territory, which is in northern Somalia, is not recognised by foreign governments. Somalia insists that Somaliland is not independent.