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.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation wishes to announce that the Federal Government of Somalia has decided to cut all diplomatic relationship with the Republic of Guinea.
➡️🔗https://t.co/yGNI488rvH#Somalia #Somali #Mogadishu #Guinea #Conakry pic.twitter.com/NzHOJakIZF— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇸🇴 (@MOFASomalia) July 4, 2019
The President of the Republic of Somaliland, H.E @musebiihi has safely landed at Gbessia International Airport in Conakry, Guinea.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guinea, H.E. Mr Mamadi Toure has welcomed Somaliland delegation at the airport. pic.twitter.com/xqdashPYXv
— Madaxtooyada JSL (@MadaxtooyadaJSL) July 2, 2019
#Mogadishu ends diplomatic relations with #Conakry over violation of sovereignty. Earlier this week, the West African nation of #Guinea hosted Muse Bihi Abdi of #Somaliland, an autonomous region in northern #Somalia seeking international recognition since 1991. pic.twitter.com/UBcCsnedAQ
— Abdulaziz (@AbdulBillowAli) July 4, 2019
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.
