President of Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi has vehemently disagreed with a decision from the Federal Government of Somalia for remittance companies to remove any mention of “Somaliland” from their services, taking a bold stand against the country’s recent mandate. Tensions have risen as a result of the instruction, which is perceived as an assertion of Somalia’s authority over Somaliland.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Somalia has issued an order that demands that major remittance providers such as Paysli, Dahabshiil, and Jubba Express stop using the term “Somaliland” by September 1. The government of Somalia maintains that noncompliance may result in legal consequences and that this measure is essential for preserving the country’s territorial integrity.
At the opening of a new prison in Hargeisa, President Bihi declared, “President Mohamud, who cannot even secure his residence in Mogadishu without international troops, is issuing directives to prevent Somaliland’s planes from landing and banks from operating under our name.” Bihi dismissed the directive as ineffectual. He added that Somaliland’s sovereignty will not be compromised by such activities.
The president’s words were echoed by Ali Hassan Mohamed, the minister of information for Somaliland, who cautioned businesses that following Somalia’s direction would be viewed as an insult to Somaliland’s independence. He made it clear that Somaliland will retaliate against any organization that followed the directive.
The instruction was also slammed by the Somaliland opposition party, the Waddani Party, which expressed concerns that it would escalate tensions between the two areas.
This most recent incident highlights the ongoing sovereignty conflict between Somaliland and Somalia and comes after Somalia successfully persuaded Ethiopian Airlines and FlyDubai to identify Hargeisa as part of Somalia on their booking sites.