Somalia president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud now says his government will only hold the next round of talks with Somaliland once the latter sorts it’s internal politics.
Speaking in an interview with Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, the director and Senior Fellow of Africa Program, CSIS, on the strengthening Somalia’s Security and international relations Mohamud said Somaliland is in transition and there are elections there that have proven a little bit difficult.
Dizolele posed a question: “Your Excellency, there is an issue about. Somaliland. Somaliland has been working hard to get recognition for their own independence, particularly in Washington. And they – I think this is a dividend for them because of peace and stability on that side of that region. So what is your position for the future of Somaliland? And are there steps that you’re taking to recover this national unity
To which the Somali President answered: “We have one unique issue that might be a bit difficult for 100 percent finalization of the constitution, which is a different issue – an issue called Somaliland, which is separate, but the rest of Somalia, if we make them agree on a constitution then it’s easy for us to negotiate with Somaliland and show them the constitution, if they agree, they can vote whatever they want in there. So it’s a process going on.”
President Mohamud said that the Somaliland issue remains serious and previous negotiations have yielded nothing.
“Well, There is a – as I said earlier, there is a very serious issue of Somaliland. It’s a national issue. And it has been there for all this part. There was no focus there. And still there are – we are diverted by the house in flames already in the south. So, but in my last term when I was in power, we started negotiations and we have two, three negotiations. Which was good, to be sitting together and dialoguing, but the results were very limited.”
He said that while there is prevailing Peace in Somaliland, the political tension occasioned by the failure by government led by President Muse Bihi to set in motion plans to hold the presidential elections in November will be a stumbling block in the negotiation process.
“Now Somaliland is in transition. There are elections that have proven a little bit difficult. Elections that did not take place when they were supposed to take place. So there are still – there’s no fighting, there is no violence or war. But there’s a disagreement in the political process of Somaliland now.”
He said that should the political situation be solved, his government will consider sitting on a round table with Somaliland.
“So we want to give them space. But once that is ended, we will kickstart again the negotiations that we had with them
But when asked if he is ready to be fully engaged in negotiation with them now, President Mohamud said: “Not now, because it’s still, as I said, they are in transition. We talk to them, the leaders, the sitting leaders and the opposition leaders. We have channels of communication. But still, we are not negotiating officially, yeah.”
