Abdikarim Hussein Guled, the special envoy for Somaliland affairs for the Somali president, spoke by phone on Wednesday with Larry Andre, the leaving US ambassador to Somalia, about the necessity of starting a dialogue with Somaliland.
Guled received support from Ambassador Andre, who emphasized the US government’s commitment to supporting talks between Somalia and Somaliland. These discussions seek to end protracted political disputes and promote regional stability.
After meeting with Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh on Sunday in Djibouti, Guled left for Somalia this week. They talked about the upcoming round of talks between the government of Somaliland and the Federal Republic of Somalia. Over the past few years, Djibouti has played a key role in moderating these infrequent conversations.
Since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed named Guled the Special Envoy for Somaliland Affairs, he has taken part in numerous meetings that have been held to be ready for the upcoming round of negotiations.
Guled has prior experience settling problems between Somalia and Somaliland, having worked on the issue from 2012 to 2017 while President Mohamud was in office. Although it declared independence in 1991, Somaliland, an independent entity in northern Somalia, is still not recognized internationally.
Muse Bihi Abdi, the president of Somaliland, voiced his approval of Guled’s appointment and his willingness to participate in the debate.