Somalia Summons Danish Ambassador Over ‘Remarks’ During Elections in Somaliland

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somalia has summoned the Danish ambassador to the country over what it terms as a violation of its independence and territorial integrity following alleged remarks in the just concluded elections in Somaliland.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Fiqi summoned ambassador Steen Andersen for a meeting on Tuesday. According to a letter seen by Goobjoog News, Fiqi says the meeting was a reaction to the ambassador’s ‘recent remarks in his observation of the election process in the Northern region of Somalia-Somaliland.

According to an audio leak following a joint media conference in Hargeisa, someone purported to the Danish ambassador says ‘we’re used to that’ after a reaction from another person is heard telling him that ‘you’re treating Somaliland as a country.’

Ambassador Andersen posted on the official X page on election that Denmark in Somalia was ‘excited to be here where polling stations are open for the general election. 1 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots.’

Somalia has in recent months ratcheted up campaign against reference to Somaliland as a separate country following the January controversial MoU between Ethiopia and the break-away region.

International observers among them Denmark and the US lauded the conduct of the elections while giving it a clean bill.