We are not part of federalisation process in Somalia-Somaliland Foreign Minister

The break-away region of Somaliland has termed comments by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud regarding the federalization process in Somalia as detached from the reality of the northern state’s quest for self determination.

Somaliland’s foreign affairs minister Sa’ad Ali Shire accused President Mohamud of ignoring the state’s efforts to self independence following the President’s comments this past week that Somaliland and Banaadir regions were the only remaining regions in the federalization agenda.

“President Mohamud ignores the fact that Somaliland is an independent country. I know Mr. President you ignore that fact but I would like to let you know that Somaliland is an independent country from Somalia,” said Shire in a media conference in Hargeisa.

Speaking during the swearing in of President Ali Abdullahi Osoble of the newly formed Hir-Shabelle state, President Mohamud said the federalization was almost complete with Somaliland remaining the status of Banaadir region.

The Minister said Somaliland is not ready to waiver its rights to full independence from Somalia but added it is still committed to negotiations with the Federal government.

Somaliland has been pursuing self determination since 1991 following the collapse of the central government.

There had been earlier reports the region would not be participating in the election of Lower and Upper Houses but the Federal electoral body FIEIT told Goobjoog News Monday there was a now signs of the state participating.