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Turkey’s ambassador is officially accredited to Somalia, not Somaliland. If he visits Somaliland, he should do so either by obtaining a visa or through an official invitation, in accordance with Somaliland’s constitution.
It is also crucial that President Abdirahman Mohamed (Ciro) maintains full transparency about his meetings with any foreign diplomats—especially those representing states that do not recognize Somaliland’s sovereignty. Turkey’s past positions, the people of Somaliland have a right to know the details of such discussions to ensure that their national interests are not undermined.
Our concern about Turkey’s ambassador and Somaliland’s sovereignty is valid. Here are some key points that should be highlighted regarding this issue:
- Turkey’s Ambassador is Only Accredited to Somalia
- Turkey officially recognizes Somalia as a single entity and does not acknowledge Somaliland’s sovereignty.
- As per Somaliland’s constitution and laws, any foreign official visiting Somaliland must obtain a visa or come through an official invitation by Somaliland’s government.
- The Turkish ambassador does not have jurisdiction over Somaliland and should not conduct diplomatic engagements without formal approval.
- Somaliland’s Sovereignty Must Be Respected
- Somaliland declared its independence in 1991 and has operated as a fully functional state for over three decades.
- Any courtesy meetings between Somaliland officials and foreign diplomats should not be misunderstood as recognition of the ambassador’s authority over Somaliland.
- Somaliland welcomes diplomatic engagement but strictly on a state-to-state basis, not under Somalia’s umbrella.
- The Need for Transparency from President Abdirahman Mohamed (Ciro)
- Turkey’s history of supporting Somalia in diplomatic matters, there are concerns that its engagements may not align with Somaliland’s statehood interests.
- President Ciro must openly disclose the details of any discussions he holds with the Turkish ambassador.
- The people of Somaliland have the right to know whether any discussions involve Somaliland’s sovereignty, diplomatic status, or foreign relations.
- Turkey’s Past Actions Raise Concerns
- Turkey has played a major role in backing Somalia’s unity agenda and has actively participated in past Somalia-Somaliland talks, often favoring Mogadishu.
- Turkey provides military and economic assistance to Somalia, which could be used against Somaliland in diplomatic or military disputes.
- There are reports of Turkey’s involvement in influencing political figures against Somaliland’s sovereignty, making it crucial for Somaliland’s leadership to act with caution.
- Somaliland’s Response Moving Forward
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must ensure that any foreign engagement follows Somaliland’s constitutional framework.
- Any foreign diplomat who fails to recognize Somaliland’s sovereignty should not be allowed to engage politically without proper clearance.
- Somaliland’s government should issue a clear diplomatic protocol on how foreign ambassadors accredited to Somalia should engage with Somaliland.
All in all
The people of Somaliland deserve full transparency in diplomatic affairs. President Ciro and opposition leaders should make immediate public statements detailing their discussions with the Turkish ambassador of Somalia. Somaliland cannot afford to have critical national matters discussed behind closed doors, especially with foreign diplomats who do not officially recognize its sovereignty and undermining the statehood of country
The information contained in the article posted represents the views and opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions commentators. the article a opininian of the author don’t necessarily reflect the Editorial policy of Araweelo News Network.
Engineer, Abdi Ali Barkhad
Independent Political Analyst
Hargeisa, Somaliland
tra50526@gmail.com
February 16, 2025