Somalia Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Guinea Over Somaliland

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Somalia cuts diplomatic ties with the West African country of Guinea over Somaliland
Somalia cuts diplomatic ties with the West African country of Guinea over violation of sovereignty and unity of Somalia, after Guinea gave a red carpet welcome to the president of the breakaway territory of Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi.

BY ABDI GULED | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Somalia’s government announced it is cutting diplomatic ties with Guinea, accusing the West African country of violating its sovereignty.



The decision came after the president of the breakaway northern territory of Somaliland received a red carpet welcome in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, earlier this week.

Somalia’s foreign minister Ahmed Awad announced the action against Guinea on Thursday in a press conference but declined to give further details. Awad said he sent warnings to other countries that he said were similarly violating Somalia’s sovereignty.

Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 and has maintained a measure of peace and stability. But the territory, which is in northern Somalia, is not recognized by any foreign government. Somalia insists that Somaliland is not independent.




Somalia-Somaliland History

Formerly a British protectorate, Somaliland merged with former Italian Somaliland in 1960 to create Somalia.

But it seceded and declared itself independent in 1991 as Somalia plunged into chaos after the fall of autocrat Siad Barre. Somaliland has been pushing for independence ever since.

It has its own government based in the self-appointed capital of Hargeisa, its own army and prints its own currency.

It is also considered much more stable than the rest of Somalia, which is plagued by clan disputes, corruption and a violent insurgency waged by the Al-Shabaab militant group.