After prolonged political tensions and years of deadlock, Somalia and the breakaway region of Somaliland have reached an agreement to resume dialogue. The deal, signed on Friday, follows two days of talks facilitated by Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, marking the first negotiations of this kind since 2020.
The joint statement released by the Somali presidency expressed the commitment of both sides to resume talks, focusing on national interests to reach a sustainable solution. Somaliland has sought full statehood since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, a move not internationally recognized and opposed by Mogadishu.
Considered a stability beacon in the Horn of Africa, Somaliland faced political tensions earlier this year, resulting in deadly violence. The Djibouti-mediated agreement outlines a roadmap for talks within 30 days, collaboration on security, the fight against organized crime, and joint efforts on peace and stability in conflict zones.
The signing ceremony, overseen by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi, marks a positive step, with previous talks between the two sides making limited progress from 2012 to 2020.
Workneh Gebeyehu, executive secretary of regional grouping IGAD, welcomed the Djibouti agreement, emphasizing the importance of peaceful means and dialogue in resolving difficulties among member states. The British embassy in Somalia also praised the move as a “vital step towards reconciliation.”
Somaliland, with a population of 4.5 million, has a lengthy coastline on the Gulf of Aden and operates as a self-declared republic with its own government, currency, and passports. However, its quest for international recognition and statehood has faced challenges, leaving it economically strained and isolated.
Earlier this year, political tensions escalated into violence between Somaliland’s forces and clan militias loyal to Somalia, challenging the authority of the self-declared republic. Despite these challenges, Somaliland remains relatively stable compared to Somalia, which has endured decades of civil war and Islamist insurgency.
