Somalia: Somaliland sets out new condition for Dialogue

HARGEISA, Somalia, March 18, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Despite a chill, Somaliland’s separatist administration has put a new condition on the talks with Somalia Federal Government on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

Somaliland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohamed Bihi Yonis told a news conference in the capital, Hargeisa that they will not gather for another talks without the presence of international community representatives.

“Somaliland remains committed not to sit down with Somalia in dialogue without [international] intermediaries,” said Yonis, accusing Mogadishu-based central government of being reluctant about the bilateral talks.

Turkey-brokered talks between Somalia Federal Government and breakaway Somaliland region broke down after Somaliland delegates refused to come to the negotiating table in the Turkish city of Istanbul in February.

The separatist administration afterwards revealed that they were dissatisfied with the participation of Somaliland-born members in the round of the dialogue.

Both sides have long traded over lambastes over the collapse of the bilateral talks.

Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia declared its independence from the rest of the country as de facto sovereign state in 1991 but it has not been recognized internationally yet. 

GAROWE ONLINE