Several countries have demonstrated willingness to see the dialogue between Somalia and Somaliland resuming soon.
However, Somaliland has unequivocally stated that it would not be participating in the talks as long as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed leads them.
Somaliland Foreign Minister, Yasin Faraton, also castigated the role played by the United States Ambassador to Somalia, Donald Yamamoto.
According to Faraton, Somaliland would only consider taking part in the talks with Somalia if Abiy and Yamamoto play no role in organizing them.
Faraton says that Somaliland has no plans to reunify with Somalia, a plan that many international players want the two countries to pursue.
The foreign minister says his country would have no problem with talks that entrench secession and help Somaliland to earn the international recognition that it craves.
“Abiy Ahmed and Yamamoto are at the forefront of calling for reunification, which Somaliland does not want to pursue or even contemplate,” Faraton said.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 after joining it in 1960 just after the two nations got their independence from Britain and Italy respectively.