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Somaliland authorities have firmly dismissed recent claims by the Federal Government of Somalia that the two sides are currently engaged in dialogue. In a statement shared on X, Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the reports coming from Mogadishu were misleading and amounted to unnecessary interference in Somaliland’s internal political affairs.
According to the statement, Somaliland made the decision to suspend talks with Somalia earlier this year, citing what it described as repeated and “blatant interference” by Somali officials. The ministry said the negotiation process, which has gone on for about 13 years, had “formally ceased,” and stressed that no individual—either in Somaliland or Somalia—has the authority to misrepresent this position to the public or the international community.
The ministry added that it was important to set the record straight because comments made by Somali officials risk creating false impressions that progress is being made or that discussions are quietly taking place behind the scenes. Somaliland said this is not the case and emphasized that any claims of ongoing communication are simply incorrect.
The reaction came shortly after Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar Balcad, stated during an interview that Mogadishu maintains direct and regular contact with Somaliland. He suggested that the Somali government is working toward finding a political solution to long-standing disagreements between the two sides. Balcad’s comments were widely shared and reported internationally, which pushed Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify its official stance.
In response to the minister’s remarks, Somaliland reiterated that dialogue cannot continue under current circumstances. The Foreign Ministry maintained that Somalia has repeatedly involved itself in Somaliland’s domestic political matters in ways that undermine trust and disrupt the negotiation process. According to the statement, this interference made it impossible for talks to continue in good faith.
Somaliland also reaffirmed its long-standing position on its political status. The ministry insisted that Somaliland is a sovereign, stable, and peaceful nation that has governed itself since 1991, when it announced that it was restoring the independence it had before joining Somalia in 1960. It added that Somaliland has built its own democratic institutions, security systems, and governance structures over the past three decades.
To further clarify its political stance, the ministry reminded the public that Somaliland has never been part of the federal system that Somalia adopted after 2012. It emphasized that efforts to portray Somaliland as a federal state of Somalia or to suggest that it operates under Somalia’s political framework are inaccurate and misleading.
The statement stressed that Somaliland’s citizens are united in their vision for the future and that attempts to sow confusion or division will not succeed. According to the ministry, Somaliland’s stability and resilience are the result of its people’s commitment to self-governance and peaceful coexistence. The government said it will not be swayed by statements made for personal political gain or for international attention.
Somaliland concluded its message by urging officials in Mogadishu to respect its decisions and avoid issuing declarations that do not reflect reality. It said that meaningful dialogue can only be possible when there is mutual respect, honesty, and non-interference. Until these conditions are met, Somaliland maintains that there are no talks taking place and none planned for the immediate future.