Amb. Elmi Declares Somalia Has No Stake in November 13 Elections in Somaliland
Somaliland has consistently maintained that it operates as a fully sovereign state, independent from Somalia, since declaring its separation in 1991.
The upcoming November 13 elections in Somaliland fall under the jurisdiction of the Somaliland government and its National Election Commission, a point that Ambassador Rhoda J. Elmi emphasized in her statement.
Amb. Elmi, Somaliland’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, issued this statement on Friday.
The assertion is clear that these elections are solely the responsibility of Somaliland’s government and people, with no involvement from Somalia’s government.
She hit out at recent comments by Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Fiqi at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) regarding Somaliland’s elections.
Amb. Elmi’s stance suggests that the statements by Fiqi were misleading, and it’s notable that no challenges were raised against his claims during the briefing.
The tension between Somalia and Somaliland continues to revolve around the latter’s quest for international recognition as a separate entity, which Somalia does not acknowledge.
This ongoing disagreement is central to political discussions and events like these, where statements on sovereignty and election matters can provoke significant responses from both sides.q
