MOGADISHU– Leaders of Somalia and the breakaway Somaliland have been urged to resume the talks to resolve their differences five years after attempts to iron out the dispute collapsed.
The ambassadors from Netherlands and Denmark to Somalia have called for dialogue to end the decades-old differences between the sides.
In a separate meeting with Somaliland representative in Kenya, Bashe Awil Omar, Denmark envoy to Somalia Mette Knudsen said it was vital for the two countries to sort their differences and work together.
“The international community is ready to bring the two parties together for another round of talks,” Knudsen said, “For peace, stability, and restoration to be achieved in the horn of Africa, it is important that all the conflicts are ended and that includes that between Somalia and Somaliland.”
As reported by Capital News, Kenyan online media, Nairobi has been identified as one of the potential venues for the talks which have previously collapsed after agreements have been signed with both sides accusing each other of reneging on the signed deals.
Frans Makken, the Dutch envoy to Somalia on his part insisted on the need for tranquility between Somalia and Somaliland as they chart their future.
“It is important to work together. You (Somaliland and Somalia) have all our support in ensuring peace prevails,” he told Bashe.
Somaliland envoy to Kenya Bashe Awil Omar (Left) pose for a photograph with the Danish ambassador to Somalia Mette Knudsen after their meeting at the Danish embassy in Nairobi. The two discussed initiating talks to end the conflicts between Somaliland and Somalia/ Photo COURTESY CAPITAL NEWS
In 2012, the representatives from Somalia and Somaliland inked deal to resolving some of the issues including the country’s airspace.
The sides agreed to form the Air Traffic Control Board comprises four members whom the sides agreed to be based in Hargeisa, the administrative capital of Somaliland.
Thought the federal government took the control of the airspace from ICAO last year, the proposed joint Air Traffic Control Board has not yet been formed.
Somaliland, a former British protectorate proclaimed independence from the rest of Somalia after the collapse of the central government in 1991.
Though the federal government is insisting on the unity of Somalia as paramount, the leaders of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland want to secure secession.
Source: Halbeeg News
