Horn Post | Diplomacy & Politics
HARGEISA – (Horn post) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Somaliland has firmly rejected statements made by Somalia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Balcad, describing them as false, misleading, and disconnected from realities on the ground in Somaliland.
In an official statement, Somaliland’s Foreign Ministry condemned remarks repeatedly aired by Al Jazeera Arabic, in which officials based in Mogadishu made assertions regarding Somaliland’s territorial and political status.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Somaliland strongly condemns the statements attributed to officials in Mogadishu, which are repeatedly broadcast on the Al Jazeera Channel,” the statement said.
The ministry stressed that the claims are “baseless and inaccurate” and accused Somalia’s federal government of deliberately attempting to mislead public opinion. It also urged international and regional media outlets to uphold professional standards and rely on credible, verified sources when reporting on sensitive political issues.
Contested remarks
The response follows comments by Ali Balcad, who told Al Jazeera Arabic that Somaliland does not constitute a single political entity. He claimed that Somaliland is made up of three regions, arguing that parts of its territory belong to Somalia’s federal system and reducing Somaliland’s status to a clan-based issue.
Somaliland response and analysis
Somaliland officials and political analysts dismissed the remarks as detached from historical facts and geographical realities. They argue that the Somali official making such claims has little understanding of Somaliland’s regions, borders, and political institutions.
Critics say the comments reflect a broader pattern by Mogadishu-based officials of denying Somaliland’s historical and political foundations, while focusing on rhetoric rather than engaging with the facts on the ground.
Prepared by:
Horn post staff reporter
