Somalia is ready to resume talks with Somaliland authorities in northern Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Monday.
During a meeting with Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Yilmaz, Norwegian chargé d’affaires Haakon Svane, Turkey’s Special Representative Aykut Kumbarolu, and Norway’s Special Representative, Ms. Heidi Johansen in Mogadishu on Monday, President Hassan expressed his government’s commitment to talk to Somaliland stakeholders.
President Hassan thanked the governments of Turkey and Norway for their commitment to supporting the restoration of Somalia and Somaliland talks.
The talks between Somalia and Somaliland began in 2012 when the London Conference on Somalia, held at Lancaster House in February resulted in a communiqué.
In 2014, the Federal Government of Somalia and the self-declared Republic of Somaliland signed an accord following three-day talks moderated by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
In June 2020, former Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi met in Djibouti in a meeting brokered by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh.
The two sides agreed on the continuation of the talks but a month later Somaliland rescinded its decision and accused Turkey of supporting Somalia against Somaliland.
Somaliland proclaimed independence from the rest of Somalia after the collapse of the central government of Somalia led by the late Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.
Despite restoring peace in its region, but Somaliland has failed to secure international recognition.
