MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s government has issued a stern warning to remittance companies regarding their references to Somaliland as an independent country and asked them to stop violations against the country’s sovereignty.
This directive follows an enforcement action taken against Ethiopian Airlines and Fly Dubai, which had been using the term “Somaliland” in their flight schedules and promotional materials. The Somali authorities demanded these carriers revise their references to align with the official designation of “Somalia”.
Both Ethiopian Airlines and Fly Dubai have complied with the Somali government’s order, removing “Somaliland” from their flight listings and replacing it with “Somalia.”
This adjustment reflects the Somali administration’s broader effort to consolidate its territorial claims and discourage external entities from recognizing or legitimizing the region’s separatist aspirations. The Somali government’s action highlights its sensitivity to any form of acknowledgment of Somaliland’s de facto independence, which it views as a challenge to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Somali government’s firm stance on this issue underscores a broader strategy to reinforce its control and resist any external influences that might support the region’s separatist movement. By issuing threats of consequences to entities that defy its sovereignty, Somalia aims to dissuade other international players from making similar concessions.
In response to a tweet by UK ambassador, Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said the “reclassification [of Somalia and Somaliland] under two distinct names is utterly unacceptable and constitutes a blatant attack on the sovereignty and unity of Somalia.”
