Somalia Severs Ties With Guinea

Somalia has announced that it is cutting diplomatic ties with Guinea, as a result of the West African nation’s relations with Somaliland.

The announcement follows a trip by the leader of Somaliland to the Guinea capital of Conakry earlier this week on an official invitation from President Alpha Conde.

The semi-autonomous region of Somalia continues to push for recognition of its independence, which is strongly opposed by the Somali government.

A statement from the Government of Somalia read, “Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation wishes to announce that the Federal Government of Somalia has decided to cut all diplomatic relationship with the Republic of Guinea. The decision follows after Guinea has accorded the protocol of Head of State in Conakry, Guinea, to the leader of a separatist movement in Somaliland in the north of Somalia thus disregarding callously all the relevant resolutions of the UN and African consensus. Somalia denounces this in the strongest of terms and considers it a blatant and egregious violation of the Sovereignty, Unity and Territorial integrity of Somalia by the Republic of Guinea. 

The Federal Government of Somalia believe in the established principle of non-interference in internal affairs of Sovereign States and will not tolerate others to hinder our efforts of reconciling our people and building consensus for democratic governance structure and responsive state institutions. “

Last week the Government of Somalia criticised Kenya after the latter referred to meetings with Somaliland officials as covering “issues of mutual interest to both countries.”