Some members of the Somaliland Cabinet, who spoke to the media, said that the Turkish and Djiboutian governments are opposed to the recognition of Somaliland due to their own economic interests. They specifically called on the Somali government to stay out of Somaliland’s affairs.
They said that Turkey was the first country in the Islamic world to recognize Israel, but because of the economic agreements it had with the Somali government, it was very upset about the recognition of Somaliland, thinking that it could access Somaliland’s resources through these agreements.
The Minister of the Presidency of Somaliland, Khadar Hussein Abdi, said that Somaliland had tried to improve relations with Djibouti, but the Djiboutian government had taken steps that showed “envy” and were in direct conflict with Somaliland’s recognition. He noted that the Djiboutian people are good people, but the current administration believes that Somaliland should be destroyed.
Meanwhile, Somaliland’s Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Dahir Aden, said: “If Djibouti had any love for Somali unity, it would have gained independence in 1977, and on that day they had the opportunity to join Somalia. Seeing the suffering they were in, they refused to join. If they had any real love for Somaliland, they would have joined.”
They also strongly criticized the Somali government, the current leaders, and some of the leaders who led Somalia in the past, saying that plans to destroy Somaliland are being organized in Mogadishu, but that some regional administrations are not involved in this, and they have not done anything wrong to Somaliland.
They added that Somaliland is in control of the Bab al-Mandab waterway, and that no decision or agreement will be made without it. They warned the Somali government against entering into agreements with foreign governments regarding Somaliland’s resources.
Israel, a Western ally and largely unpopular in the Islamic world, became the first country to recognize Somaliland. This prompted strong opposition from the Somali government, which sees it as a violation of its territorial integrity.
In addition to the international government’s opposition, countries that have specifically opposed the recognition of Somaliland include Djibouti, Turkey, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which have economic and strategic ties with the Somali government and do not see Somaliland’s recognition as part of their interests.
