Foreign relations of Somaliland

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Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Foreign relations of Somaliland are the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[1] Somaliland is a self-declared independent republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia. The region's self-declared independence remains unrecognised by the international community.[2][3]

Due to its status, Somaliland currently has no official contacts with any nation. International recognition as a sovereign, stable state, remains at the forefront of the government's current foreign policy. Other key priorities are encouraging international aid and foreign investment.

The position of the international community is to support Somalia's central government, territorial integrity and sovereignty.[4]

Overview

Somaliland has political contacts with its neighbours Ethiopia[5] and Djibouti,[6] as well as with Belgium,[5] France,[7] Ghana,[5] South Africa,[5] Sweden,[5][8] the United Kingdom,[5][9] and the United States.[10]

In 2007, a delegation led by President Kahin was present at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala, Uganda. Although Somaliland has applied to join the Commonwealth under observer status, its application is still pending.[11]

In 2002, Germany refused to recognize Somaliland as a precursor in establishing a military base in the region. It instead established a naval base in Djibouti.[12] German naval ships already operated from Berbera.[13] In September 2012, at the mini-summit on Somalia on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, the German government also re-affirmed its continued support for Somalia's government, territorial integrity and sovereignty.[4]

In February 2010, there were rumours that Israel might recognise Somaliland.[14][15] The rumours turned out to be wrong.[16] Additionally, there was an arms smuggling affair involving Somaliland and an Israeli arms dealer.[16]

In 2011, the foreign ministers of South Africa and Tanzania said that they were not ready to recognise Somaliland and that they preferred to see Somalia remain as a single country.[17] In 2012, South Africa and Ethiopia also re-affirmed their continued support for Somalia's government, territorial integrity and sovereignty at the mini-summit on Somalia in New York on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.[4]

In April 2014, the Sheffield City Council in the United Kingdom voted to recognize the right to self-determination of Somaliland, the first city council to do so. The gesture was purely ceremonial and carried no legal weight.[18] On 26 March 2015, Cardiff City Council followed suit.[19] On 18 May 2015, the UK independence Party, a British political party with legislative representation, commemorated Somaliland's Independence Day and announced support for international recognition.[20] Nevertheless, the UK government and the international community officially recognize Somaliland as an autonomous region of Somalia.

Foreign Minister

As of June 2013, Mohamed Yonis is the Foreign Minister of Somaliland.[21]

Diplomatic Representative Offices

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Somaliland maintains representative (liaison) offices in several countries, but these missions do not have formal diplomatic status under the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Such offices exist in the following cities:

The following foreign governments have diplomatic offices in Hargeisa:

As of February 2010, the Yemeni government is reportedly planning to open a diplomatic office in Hargeisa.[30][31]

Border disputes

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Somaliland is in dispute over control of the Sool, Sanaag and Cayn (SSC) regions with the autonomous Puntland and Khatumo State regional administrations (formerly HBM-SSC or Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC[32]). The inhabitants of these areas predominantly belong to the same Harti clan that constitutes a majority of Puntland's residents.

Additionally, control of the Awdal province is disputed between Somaliland and the Awdalland administration.

Somaliland's leaders have also distanced themselves from the Federal Government of Somalia, which they see as a threat to their self-declared independence.

Passports

Somaliland issues its own passports.[33]

Organisational membership

Somaliland is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO).[14]

See also

References

  1. Council of Ministers. Government of Somaliland.
  2. Lacey, Marc (5 June 2006). The Signs Say Somaliland, but the World Says Somalia. The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
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  19. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/somaliland-recognised-by-cardiff-council-8930027
  20. http://www.somalilandpress.com/ukip-supports-somaliland-national-day/
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  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Contacts and addresses of the Somaliland Representative Offices around the world. Government of Somaliland.
  23. Wiren, Robert (8 April 2008). France recognizes de facto Somaliland. Les Nouvelles d'Addis. Versailles. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  24. Somaliland Trade Liaison Office, Pretoria. Visit of Somaliland’s UCID Foreign affairs spokesperson to south Africa. Qaran News (1 May 2010). Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  25. Somaliland Diplomatic Mission in Sweden. Somaliland Embassy in Sweden.
  26. Ethiopia’s New Representative to Somaliland. Qarannews (30 October 2009). Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  27. Section II: Somaliland. International Council on Security and Development. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
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  30. Somaliland: Yemen To Open Diplomatic Office in Somaliland. Aden Press (19 February 2010). Retrieved 2010-05-25.
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  32. Somaliland’s Quest for International Recognition and the HBM-SSC Factor
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