Talks between Somalia and breakaway Somaliland continue in Djibouti
The leaders of Somalia and the region of Somaliland, which is separated from Somalia and is not recognized internationally, have met in Djibouti to resume negotiations to resolve the conflict that emerged in 1991 after Somaliland declared independence.
According to the Somali National News Agency (SONNA), the Somali delegation to the talks is led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and includes Interior Minister Ahmed Ma'alin Fiqi, Trade Minister Jibril Abdirashid and Abdikarim Hussein Guled, special envoy of the talks with the delegation of the Somaliland region led by President Muse Bihi Abdi. The talks which started on Thursday are expected to continue for several days. The talks hosted by the government of Djibouti will cover security and economic issues and the political situation in Somaliland. The media has quoted a statement from the Office of the President of Somalia which said that this round of talks aims to "restore trust" and "promote brotherly relations" between Somalia and Somaliland. The talks have come after the SSC-Khatumo region of Somaliland announced that it is supporting the administration of the federal government based in Mogadishu. Somalia collapsed as a nation in 1991 after President Siad Barre was removed from power. The international community recognizes the federal government based in Mogadishu as the only legitimate authority in Somalia. In addition to Somalialand declaring independence, the Puntland region in Somalia has also declared self-government. Somaliland is a former British colony while other parts of Somalia were colonized by Italy. The two parties united in 1960 after gaining independence from the European colonialists.
