SOMALIA-SOMALILAND TALKS LEAVE DISPUTED TERRITORIES IN THE LURCH

[Deeq A.]

Commentary.

The new round of Somalia-Somaliland Talks held in Djibouti last week show the remarkable progress made since 2012, when the former President of Somaliland Hon. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud introduced the policy to talk to Mogadishu about outstanding political issues of which sovereignty of Somalia over Somaliland is the most salient.

What makes the renewed  Somalia-Somaliland Talks under the auspices of Djibouti Government more interesting is the political risk President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and President Muse Bihi Abdi have taken to modify their respective positions.

Somali Interior Minister Abdi M. Sabriye (left), Djibouti Foreign Minister Mohamud Ali Yusuf (middle) and Somaliland Foreign Minister Yasin Haji Mohamud (right) pose for the camera with “preliminary articles” signed last night in Djibouti

In his speech President Bihi explained the rationale for seeking secession from Somalia thus: “Following the failure of the unity government, Republic of Somaliland exercised its inherent right to self-determination which are consistent with the preamble of UN 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Somaliland has long argued that Somali Republic was two united countries. The Failure of the unity government provided adequate ground for the restoration of the independence of Somaliland Republic.”

This argument based on “government failure” reflects a desire on the part of Somaliland to refine its claim that once emphasised “unilateral secession” and “reassertion of independence”. Hargeysa sees parallels between the collapse of the state in Somalia and the break-up of Yugoslavia.

President Bihi thanked the Somali Federal Government “for their sincere apology today for the horrors of yesteryear committed in Somaliland.” President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has signalled that Mogadishu will adopt a new approach to Somalia-Somaliland Talks. The Federal Minister for Interior, Abdi Mohamed Sabriye, co-signed preliminary points on which the two technical committees from Mogadishu and Hargeysa agreed.

The focus on a common stand on human development projects and humanitarian assistance leaves Somalis in disputed territories, who bear the brunt of underdevelopment and threat of territorial conflicts, in the lurch.  Not only is Somaliland in territorial dispute with Puntland but it also questions the sovereignty claim of Mogadishu over disputed territories. Puntland State has issued a statement to the effect that it will not honour any agreement between Somaliland Government and Somali Federal Government.  What is the point of talks without addressing the territorial dispute that render parts of Sool and Sanaag conflict-prone?

There is no a military stand-off between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia. The possible eruption of territorial conflict between Puntland and Somaliland necessitates inclusion of conflict resolution element in Somalia-Somaliland Talks. 

Due to absence of commitment to conflict resolution, notables in disputed territories have genuine concerns to express their dissatisfaction about Somalia-Somaliland Talks that relegate their plight to the level of a non-issue.

This oversight raises questions about how serious Mogadishu and Hargeisa are about talks that leave crucial issues out in favour of goals from which political leaders can reap political capital in the short term. Somalia-Somaliland Talks will turn out to be talkingshop and a waste of time and resources if Mogadishu and Hargeisa put disputed territories on the backburner.

Liban Ahmad
libahm@icloud.com

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