Somalia: Federal Govt urged to negotiate with Somaliland

HARGEISA, Somalia Sept 29, 2014 (Garowe Online)-The President of Somaliland’s separatist administration Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud (Siilaanyo) has urged Mogadishu-based Federal Government to engage in serious national dialogue on Monday, Garowe Online reports.

Speaking out on Turkey-brokered bilateral talks between Mogadishu and Hargeisa during a graduation ceremony at Hargeisa University, President Siilaanyo noted that the Federal Government is showing extreme reluctance: “I unveil that Somaliland is an independent nation and its people reached a decision to withdraw unity from Somalia”.

“Somali unity has already failed and we are not ready for another call. Somalia government seems it is not respecting the terms consistent with the previous agreements,” he said, adding that Somaliland urges Mogadishu to come to negotiating table.

Delegations representing Federal Government and Somaliland gathered for at least four talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia declared its independence from the rest of the country as a de facto sovereign state but it has not been recognized internationally yet. 

GAROWE ONLINE