Somalia prioritizes corporate entities over Somaliland’s autonomy

Somalia has declared that it will fulfill its pledge to penalize corporations that operate or identify themselves as Somaliland’s independent territory.

Mogadishu had mandated that all companies with operations in Somalia must update the information on their network platforms to reflect the fact that Somaliland is a part of Somalia by September 1.

The Somali Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) instructed companies to remove the name of Somaliland, the self-declared independent territory, from their network information sites by citing the country’s provisional constitutions.

The communiqué specifically identified money transfer agencies such as Paysii, Dahabshil, and Jubba Express. It also intended to encourage other remittance dealers and companies to cease using the name of Somaliland and instead use Somalia, setting a deadline.

Ethiopian Airlines, which operates flights to Hargeisa and Mogadishu, was also implicated, as it had classified Somaliland as a distinct nation.

Commerce and Industry Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi had stated on August 24 that “Somalia should be the sole source of data in your systems beginning September 1st of this year.”

The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) had also instructed airlines that operate out of Somali airports to cease referring to localities such as Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland territory, as distinct from Somalia.

The matter, however, is indicative of the events that have transpired since January 2, 2019, when Ethiopia and Somaliland signed an MoU that could potentially grant Addis Ababa a coastal strip to construct a naval base. This was purportedly in exchange for Somaliland’s recognition, which it has been striving for since 1991 without succeeding.

Mogadishu has since protested at every global forum, accusing Ethiopia of attempting to dismember Somalia, as a result of the irksome MoU.

Nevertheless, Somaliland maintains that Mogadishu has declined to acknowledge the genuine issue.

Ismail Shirwac, the First Secretary at the Somaliland Liaison Mission in Nairobi, stated that Somalia should not engage in a dispute with Ethiopia, but rather resolve the concerns of Somaliland.

“The root of the issue is that Somaliland is asserting that it is a part of Somalia and, as a result, is unable to engage in international agreements independently, despite the fact that Somaliland has exercised its sovereign right to do so with the UAE’s DP World,” he stated in an interview with The EastAfrican on Thursday. He was referring to a previous port deal that Somaliland entered with the Emirati logistics firm DP World, which Somalia rejected.

Somalia is at risk of further isolating itself on the global stage as long as it fails to acknowledge the reality of Somaliland’s sovereignty.

Somalia has frequently responded promptly when countries attempted to negotiate with Somaliland as an independent entity on a regional scale. In December 2020, Somalia severed diplomatic relations with Kenya following Nairobi’s hosting of Somaliland’s leader in Nairobi. Somalia accused Nairobi of meddling in Mogadishu’s internal affairs. The relationship was reestablished six months later.

In 2019, it severed its relationship with Guinea after it hosted a lavish reception for Somaliland’s leader, Muse Bihi.

Shirwac stated that Somaliland continues to establish strategic partnerships and engage with the international community, despite the fact that no sovereign state has formally recognized Somaliland.

“The recognition of Somaliland’s sovereignty and independence by Somalia is in the best interest of the entire region.”

Those partnerships may now be put to the test. Ethiopian Airlines and Flydubai were explicitly advised that their landing rights could be revoked if they failed to alter. Ethiopian Airlines was embroiled in controversy when it displayed Hargeisa without providing the country’s name, while Flydubai identified it as being situated in Somaliland.

Some airlines expressed concerns about the safety of passengers due to the contradictory navigation instructions they received from air traffic controllers in Somalia and Somaliland earlier this year. Nevertheless, the international community recognizes only one Somali airspace.

Both airlines ceased to refer to Hargeisa and other landing sites in the region as Somaliland and instead used the term “Somalia” as directed.

However, Ethiopia’s request for an extension of the timeline was denied.

“We are of the opinion that the requisite corrections should not exceed two days, given the technological capabilities that are currently available,” stated SCAA.

Nevertheless, the matter elicited a robust response from Somaliland’s leadership.

Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, a politician who is attempting to depose Bihi in the upcoming elections, characterized the Somali government’s order as a “blatant aggression.”

Irro stated this week that the Somali government has been instigating attacks on the populace, both internally and externally, and has been demonstrating intolerance and violence.

The Secretary General of the opposition Wadani Party, Khadar Hussein Abdi, contended that Somalia’s initiative will ignite Somaliland.

“Somaliland did not emerge from the expression of words and written papers, but from blood spilled,” he stated, alluding to the region’s justifications for seceding from the Siad Barre regime during the late 1980s civil war.

Somaliland has frequently portrayed Somalia as a failed state, and Bihi reiterated this sentiment last month when Egypt provided armaments to Somalia to assist local forces in their fight against al-Shabaab. However, this action incensed Ethiopia.

Bihi stated at a public gathering in Hargeisa on August 26 that President Hassan (Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud), who is unable to secure his own palace in Mogadishu without foreign troops, is issuing directives to compel planes landing in our territory and banks from operating under our name to change.

“Somalia’s endeavors to undermine Somaliland’s independence are ineffective.” The actuality on the ground and our status will not be altered by these directives.

Somaliland, which was previously known as the British Somaliland Protectorate, achieved independence from the United Kingdom on June 26, 1960. On July 1, 1960, it voluntarily amalgamated with Italian Somaliland to establish the Somali Republic.

Following the demise of Siad Barre’s regime on May 18, 1991, the territory unilaterally reclaimed independence and has since enjoyed de facto self-rule with a functioning democracy, a separate currency, and its own central bank.

At present, corporations have assessed the potential benefits or drawbacks of their operations. For instance, Ethiopian encountered the unfortunate reality of losing business in Somalia, which included six flight destinations and two daily flights to Mogadishu.

The Somali Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) resolved the dispute on behalf of money remittance companies and other entities. The SCCI asserts that it “supports the advocacy of investors, manufacturers, and traders.”