Somaliland President Attends Aid Development Partners Conference In Nairobi
“We cannot ignore the increasingly destabilizing role being played by the Government of Somalia”
Nairobi (SLpost)- The president of the republic of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahe, has called on international partners to pressure the Federal Government of Somalia over what he described as continued interference in Somaliland’s internal affairs, arguing that international efforts to revive dialogue between the two sides must go beyond simply bringing them back to the negotiating table.
Speaking at a conference in Nairobi attended by ambassadors, representatives of international organisations and development partners, the president said Somaliland remained committed to resolving its internal disputes through dialogue, reconciliation and national consensus.
But he warned that his government could not ignore what he described as the growing destabilising role of Somalia.
“We cannot ignore the increasingly destabilizing role being played by the Government of Somalia,” the president said.
The president accused Somalia’s authorities of seeking to divert their domestic challenges outward while interfering in matters internal to Somaliland.
Call for pressure on Mogadishu
The president’s central message to international partners was that encouraging dialogue alone was insufficient.
He said Somaliland had repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to engage with Somalia in negotiations and had participated in previous talks in good faith. However, he argued that several agreements reached during those negotiations were later violated by Somalia.
He therefore urged international partners to put pressure on Mogadishu to respect agreements already reached and to refrain from actions that Somaliland considers interference in its internal affairs.
“We specifically call on our international partners not only to encourage dialogue, but also to urge Somalia to comply with the agreements previously reached.” he said.
The Conference Was Attended By Ambassadors Representatives Of International Organisations And Development Partners
The president specifically cited airspace management and civil aviation as an example of an agreement that he said demonstrated the difficulties surrounding previous negotiations between Somaliland and Somalia.
Dialogue needs more than a negotiating table
The president said Somaliland was not opposed to renewed dialogue with Somalia, but argued that negotiations would only be meaningful if both sides respected commitments made during the process.
“Dialogue requires mutual respect, the fulfillment of commitments, and confidence that agreements will be honoured.” he said.
His remarks effectively placed a new responsibility on Somaliland’s international partners: not only to facilitate negotiations between Hargeisa and Mogadishu, but also to press Somalia to honour agreements and avoid what Somaliland views as political interference.
The president linked the dispute with Somalia to Somaliland’s broader campaign for international engagement.
He argued that Somaliland had developed functioning institutions, maintained democratic governance and demonstrated its ability to manage its own affairs over more than three decades.
In his closing remarks, he called on international partners to deal with Somaliland as an independent and responsible partner rather than as an extension of another political entity.
He said Somaliland wanted partnerships based on practical achievements, responsible governance, peace, security and sustainable development.
Reporting by Somalilandpost News