President Musa Bihi Abdi of Somaliland has insisted that his country would not relent on its demand for recognition and statehood as it resumes negotiations with Somalia.
Bihi made this announcement during the first meeting with President Mohamed Farmaajo of Somalia in Djibouti on Sunday.
During their meeting earlier this week, Bihi insisted that Somalia has to recognize Somaliland as a separate state before negotiations proceed further.
Others at the meeting included the host President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, and US Ambassador to Somalia, Donald Yamamoto.
Representatives from the African Union (AU), the Secretary General of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and countless other dignitaries were present too.
Bihi said that Somaliland values the pursuit of peace and reconciliation, which all other participants at the weekend discussions yearn for.
However, he mentioned that peace and reconciliation are only possible once Somaliland receives the recognition it craves from Somalia and the international community.