HARGEISA (Halbeeg News) – Somaliland foreign Minister Sa’ad Ali Shire has said that his government wants Somalia-Somaliland talks to be facilitated by foreign mediators.
Mr. Shire who spoke to the media in Hargeisa suggested that Somalia-Somaliland talks should be dealt as talks between two neighbouring countries
The authorities of the breakaway state in Northern Somalia have been pushing talks for complete independence from the rest of Somalia since 2014.
He said that a third party has to be invited to any talks between their administration and the Somali government.
Mr Shire was reacting to suggestions from the deputy prime minister of federal government, Mahad Mohamed Guleid that talks between President Farmajo and the leader of Somaliland would be resumed soon.
Mr. Guleid noted that the discussion between the leaders is expected to pave the way for further discussions between Somalia’ s northern regions and the Federal government.
“We are committed to accelerate the resumption of talks between Somalia and Somaliland,” Mr. Guleid said, “There was a plan to hold the talks between President Farmajo and the leader of Somaliland, Muse Bihi in March this year (the plan was not yet implemented) therefore we are ready to resume the talks.”
Somaliland proclaimed independence from the rest of Somalia after the collapse of the central government of Somalia led by the late Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.
Since then, the autonomous region seeks recognition as a separate country, which was rejected by Somalia.
The Somali and Somaliland governments condemned atrocities caused by the military regime in the 1980s, especially against the people in the north-western regions of Somalia, which now mainly constitute the breakaway Somaliland.
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