The British government has said it is working with Somaliland to combat the Al-Shabaab and Houthis, who it says pose a threat to both London and Hargeisa.
Gavin Williamson, a member of the British Parliament and former Defence Secretary, asked the Foreign Secretary: “In combating the Houthis, who are supported by Al-Shabaab, will you work with the Republic of Somaliland, the only democratic country in the region?”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, in response to MP Williamson’s question, assured the MP that they were working with Somaliland to tackle the Houthis and Al-Shabaab.
“This was raised at the G7 summit. Al-Shabaab is a major concern, and we are working with our partners on the terrorist attacks that arise from their actions. Yes, I can confirm that,” Lammy said.
Somaliland has repeatedly asked Western countries to cooperate with it in maritime security last year, after the Houthis launched a series of attacks on some cargo ships.
Somaliland says it has successfully secured 850 kilometers of its waters for 30 years, and therefore deserves to be worked with. The UK and Somaliland have recently discussed working together to establish a Somaliland Navy.
Meanwhile, US intelligence has recently suggested that there may be cooperation between Al Shabaab and the Houthis, raising concerns about security in Somalia and the region.
