Somalia FM blasts Somaliland for refugees trapped on boat

MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 30, 2015(Garowe Online)-Federal Government of Somalia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdisalan Hadliye Omar has blasted Somaliland’s separatist administration for refusing to disembark hundreds of Somali refugees, Garowe Online reports.

In an interview with VOA Somali Service Hadliye said that vulnerable people and distraught refugees who fled from violence can’t be sent back under United Nations Refugee Convention in what appears to be first reaction at Somaliland’s regional profiling at Berbera sea port.

“We’ve yet to understand the motives behind this because under international conventions, it is not right move to trap or send back boats with refugees on board,” noted Foreign Minister.

“Those who are returning [from Yemen conflict] are Somali nationals wherever they arrive ashore, for example Berbera, Lughaya, Seylac, Bossaso, Hobyo, Mogadishu and Kismayo,” he went on, referring to port towns along the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

He called Somaliland’s decision to turn away boats carrying Somalis hailing from South-central regions and Puntland ‘astonishing’.

The remarks by Foreign Affairs Minister come a day after Somaliland authorities blocked refugees caught in Yemen crossfire from getting refuge. 

GAROWE ONLINE