Hargeysa, Somaliland, April 18, 2009 (SL Times) – Somaliland authorities have lashed on Eritrean government for meddling of other states affairs and fueling instability in the Horn of Africa.
According to a statement released by Somaliland foreign minister Abdillahi Mohamed Du’ale, Eritrea which is an isolated administration, is famous for interfering in other countries’ affairs citing Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen and most recently Djibouti.
Somalia’s breakaway republic of Somaliland has also claimed that its security forces have captured many suspects trained in Eritrea to bring trouble to peace and security in the Horn of Africa region.
Eritrea which gained independence in 1993 from Ethiopia, has been involved in two serious conflicts on border demarcation with former colonizer Ethiopia and Djibouti.
Eritrea has be fighting with Ethiopia over the flashpoint town of Badme to Eritrea, about 1000-kilometers of frontier. The Eritrea-Ethiopia dispute is part of a set of regional tensions that extends into Somalia.
Tension between the Horn of Africa countries has been high since 16 April 2008 when Eritrean troops raided Ras Doumeira, a disputed promontory on the shores of the Red Sea, as it pursued deserters, which resulted to clashes that killed nine people in June.
Below is the press release issued by Somaliland foreign minister, Abdillahi Mohamed Dualle on Tuesday April 14, 2009:
Press Release Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Somaliland
“On April 10, 2009, Eritrean Foreign Ministry issued a press release in which it negated the existence of the Republic of Somaliland. It seems that the Government of Eritrea deliberately over looks the historical as well as the current prevailing status Quo of the Republic of Somaliland.
After a Long and costly struggle the people of Somaliland overthrow the Brutal regime of Siad Barre and on May 18, 1991, Somaliland withdrew from defunct union with Somalia and reclaimed its independent once again.
Somaliland’s declaration of independent is based on its earlier existence as a recognized separate state prior to her merger with Somalia. This is thus not a case of succession, as Eritrea depicts it. Somaliland Borders are demarcated. Somaliland accepts the sanctity of colonially inherited Boundaries in conformity with the African Union charter.
The people of Somaliland and many others in the international Community Believe that there is a strong case for diplomatic Recognition of Somaliland as an independent state based on Precedents in international Law.
It is mind-boggling however, that Eritrea dismisses all these facts blindly. Unlike Eritrea, Somaliland is a democratic country based on multiple political party systems. Unlike Eretria, Somaliland plays a significant role in the regional security. Unlike Eretria, Somaliland enjoys fantastic relationship with all its neighbors which is based on mutual understanding and mutual interests.
Many consider the Eritrean regime as a pariah state. It’s well known that Asmara regime has not only interfered the affairs of a number of neighbors, but also violated the territorial integrity of these nations, such as, Sudan, Ethiopia, Yemen and most recently the Republic of Djibouti. In addition the Asmara administration has been heavily involved in the internal affairs of Somalia. In fact, the regime has been characterized as being part and parcel of Somalia’s unresolved conflict by engaging an endless proxy war.
On several occasions Somaliland apprehended red-handedly dozens of individuals trained by Asmara to disrupt the peace and tranquility of the region.
Finally, Somaliland urges the Asmara regime to respect the will of the people of Somaliland and avoid interfering issues related to Somaliland.”

 

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