Djibouti forced to pull down communique after backlash for recognizing Somaliland as state

DJIBOUTI - In what could signal a tough task of uniting Somalia with Somaliland, Djibouti, which is the latest host nation for dialogue between the two parties, was on Sunday forced to delete a phrase in the joint communique issued after a meeting, where it had "inadvertently" recognized Somaliland as a country.

Under the stewardship of Djibouti President Ismael Omar Guelleh and Ethiopian PM Ahmed Abiy, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi held consultative talks in Djibouti, which among others, settled on establishing a technical committee to look into the impasse between the two parties.

But perhaps the turning point of the negotiations was when Djibouti termed Somaliland a "state", despite the fact that it has never been recognized internationally even after declaring self-independence in 1991, after decades of "frosty" union with Somalia.

In the communique, Djibouti said: "Held a consultative summit in Djibouti on June 14 in order to help the two leaders from Somalia and Somaliland to resume dialogue on the relationship between two countries."

However, the term sparked heated arguments on various social media platforms, exposing further tensions that surround the entire matter that is being deliberated in Djibouti, showcasing also a fragile and tense relationship between the two parties.

Pushed perhaps to the corner, Djibouti, which was selected to be hosting future engagements for the committee members, was forced to delete the term "countries", replacing it with "Somaliland and Somalia", in a move that could apart fresh controversy.

"Held a consultative summit in Djibouti on June 14 in order to help the two leaders from Somalia and Somaliland to resume dialogue on the relationship between Somalia and Somaliland," read the second communique.

After getting independence from the British on June 26th, 1960, Somaliland quickly merged with Somalia, which also secured freedom from Italians barely four days later, but the union faced a myriad of hiccups, forcing the former to secede in 1991 over atrocities committed by Siad Barre regime.

In a tweet, Guelleh, who is reportedly getting instructions from a host of international partners, exuded confidence that a solution will be reached in the coming days, adding that Djibouti will "always" stand with Somalia.

"As Djiboutians, we always remain hopeful that our brotherly Somali peoples will find a way forward together and we will always stand with you to help foster the best outcomes for everyone involved," he noted.

During the summit, Muse Bihi, the Somaliland leader, anchored his speech on the need for Somalia and the international community to recognize Somaliland, adding that the union between the two can only work if they relate as "neighboring" nations.

Somaliland, he added, was grateful for an apology issued by Farmajo in February, but insisted that it will be only meaningful if "the words are put into action". He insisted that the journey to self-determination in Hargeisa was "unstoppable".

"The act of recognizing and supporting the independence of Somaliland will go a long way to heal the wounds of the past and enable our two states to embrace each other in our independent but closely interwoven futures," read part of the speech.

A report by the International Crisis Group last year indicated that tensions between Somalia and Somaliland remain high. The core bone of contention is still Somaliland’s political status in light of its 1991 declaration of independence, which Somalia rejects.

“Somaliland’s deal with an Emirati conglomerate and Ethiopia to manage the port of Berbera – which Mogadishu saw as challenging its claim to sovereignty there – deepened antagonism,” states the report.

The report, however, says the frictions eased in 2019, and outside pressure has created some momentum toward renewed negotiations between the two sides, which last gathered to talk in 2015.

“Given high levels of suspicion between Somalia and Somaliland, international mediation will be crucial to achieving progress, but roles need to be assigned carefully."

The two factions have been operating independently. During the meeting on Sunday, they agreed to depoliticize matters to do with economic assistance and investment, which have also significantly affected their relationship.

GAROWE ONLINE