Sunday August 25, 2024
FILE PHOTO - Somaliland Information Minister Ali Hassan Mohamed, also known as Ali Marehan, during a press briefing in Hargeisa
Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland has issued a stern warning to money transfer companies, urging them not to comply with a Somali government directive that demands the removal of all references to "Somaliland" from their services by September 1.
Somaliland's Information Minister, Ali Hassan Mohamed, also known as Ali Marehan, stated that any company that adheres to Somalia's order would be considered to have committed an offence against Somaliland.
"Any company that follows the directives from Villa Somalia, or from that small, heavily fortified area beyond Dayniile's reach, will be violating Somaliland's sovereignty, and Somaliland will hold them accountable," Marehan said.
Mogadishu's directive specifically targets remittance companies like Paysii, Dahabshiil, and Jubba Express, demanding they eliminate any mention of "Somaliland" in their online services. The Somali Ministry of Commerce and Industry justified the move as essential to preserving Somalia's territorial integrity, warning that non-compliance would result in legal consequences.
Somalia's demand comes on the heels of its successful push to compel Ethiopian Airlines and Flydubai, both of which operate flights to Hargeisa, to update their booking platforms to list Hargeisa as part of Somalia.
Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991, operates as a self-declared state but remains unrecognized internationally, leading to ongoing struggles for legitimacy. Somalia, meanwhile, seeks to maintain its territorial integrity, viewing Somaliland as an integral part of its territory.
Ethiopia's recent agreement with Somaliland, allowing the construction of a naval base and development of a port and transport corridor, has exacerbated these tensions.