Recent remarks made by the Somali government regarding the upcoming presidential elections in Somaliland have been firmly rejected by the breakaway region’s administration as “baseless” and an attempt to undermine its sovereignty. This strong reaction follows comments made by Somali Foreign Minister Fiqi at the UN Security Council, where he raised concerns over Somali territorial integrity and the political situation in Somaliland.
Somaliland’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Rhoda J. Elmi, stressed that Somalia has no jurisdiction over Somaliland’s internal matters, including the presidential elections scheduled for November 13. In a statement released on Friday, Elmi reiterated, “The government and people of Somaliland are solely responsible for these elections.”
Somaliland also sharply criticized Somalia’s concerns over Ethiopia’s ties with Somaliland. The agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which grants Ethiopia access to Somaliland’s ports and includes plans for a military base, has been a point of contention for Somalia. According to Fiqi, this deal is a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and is considered illegitimate by Mogadishu.
In a press release, Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed Somalia’s accusations, stating, “It is laughable for a regime that has failed to hold credible, transparent elections for decades to comment on Somaliland’s well-established democratic process.” Officials also emphasized that the November elections in Somaliland will be conducted in a free and fair manner.
Since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland has functioned as a de facto autonomous state with its own government, military, and judiciary, though it remains unrecognized internationally. how is this headlines