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Foreign relations of the Republic of Somaliland are the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Republic of Somaliland is a self-declared independent republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia. The region's self-declared independence remains unrecognised by the international community.
Contents
- Overview
- Foreign Minister
- Diplomatic Representative Offices
- Border disputes
- Passports
- Organisational membership
- References
Due to its status, the Republic of Somaliland currently has official contacts with many nation including Ethiopia which has signed strategic and infrastructure agreement, United Arab Emirates which has signed concession agreement to manage Berbera Port . International recognition as a sovereign, stable state, remains at the forefront of the government's current foreign policy. Other key priorities are encouraging international aid and foreign investment.
The position of the international community is to support Somalia's central government, territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Overview
Somaliland has political contacts with its neighbours Ethiopia and Djibouti, as well as with Belgium, France, Ghana, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In 2007, a delegation led by President Kahin was present at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala, Uganda. Although Somaliland has applied to join the Commonwealth under observer status, its application is still pending.
In 2002, Germany refused to recognize Somaliland as a precursor in establishing a military base in the region. It instead established a naval base in Djibouti. German naval ships already operated from Berbera. In September 2012, at the mini-summit on Somalia on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, the German government also re-affirmed its continued support for Somalia's government, territorial integrity and sovereignty.
In February 2010, there were rumours that Israel might recognise Somaliland, and Israel is still interesting to maintain a diplomatic relationship with Somaliland. The rumours turned out to be wrong. Additionally, there was an arms smuggling affair involving Somaliland and an Israeli arms dealer.
In 2011, the foreign ministers of South Africa and Tanzania said that they were not ready to recognise Somaliland and that they preferred to see Somalia remain as a single country. In 2012, South Africa and Ethiopia also re-affirmed their continued support for Somalia's government, territorial integrity and sovereignty at the mini-summit on Somalia in New York on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.
In April 2014, the Sheffield City Council in the United Kingdom voted to recognize the right to self-determination of Somaliland, the first city council to do so. The gesture was purely ceremonial and carried no legal weight. On 26 March 2015, Cardiff City Council followed suit. On 18 May 2015, the UK independence Party, a major British political party with legislative representation, commemorated Somaliland's Independence Day and announced support for international recognition. Nevertheless, the Conservative UK government officially recognize Somaliland as an autonomous region of Somalia.
In February 2017, both houses of parliament of Somaliland accepted the bid from the government from the United Arab Emirates for Union Defence Force (UAE) to establish a military base in Berbera.
Foreign Minister
As of October 2015, Saad Ali Shire, the previous Planning minister, is the Foreign Minister of Somaliland.
Diplomatic Representative Offices
Somaliland maintains representative (liaison) offices in several countries, but these missions do not have formal diplomatic status under the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Such offices exist in the following cities:
The following foreign governments have diplomatic offices in Hargeisa:
As of February 2010, the Yemeni government is reportedly planning to open a diplomatic office in Hargeisa. In October 2012, Denmark has launched a diplomatic office in Hargeisa, Somaliland
Border disputes
Somaliland is in dispute over control of the Sool, Sanaag and Cayn (SSC) regions with the autonomous Puntland and Khatumo State regional administrations (formerly HBM-SSC or Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC). The inhabitants of these areas predominantly belong to the same Harti clan that constitutes a majority of Puntland's residents.
Additionally, control of the Awdal province is disputed between Somaliland and the AwdalState administration. That dispute is only on media game due to the fact thal AwdalState does not have enough support from elite in that region.
Somaliland's leaders have also distanced themselves from the Federal Government of Somalia, which they see as a threat to their self-declared independence.
Passports
Somaliland currently issues its own passports. It is recognized by eight countries, namely South Africa, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Belgium, United Kingdom, France, South Sudan, and Kenya.
Organisational membership
Somaliland is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO).