Somaliland has set a condition that Somalia must meet before it could receive any form of humanitarian assistance.
President Muse Bihi Abdi of Somaliland assured Somalia that his administration has no issue sending it humanitarian assistance to Somalia only if the latter recognizes its sovereignty.
Bihi said this when he addressed the Somaliland Armed Forces on February 2 while leading the country in commemorating the 27th anniversary of the establishment of its army.
During his speech, President Bihi said that the government and people of Somaliland are saddened by the crisis Somalia is facing.
Bihi said, “We feel very close to Somalia since they are also Muslims like us. The problems they face also hurt us.”
Nevertheless, he reiterated that his administration would only extend humanitarian assistance to Somalia once it recognizes Somaliland’s sovereignty.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991.
Since then, it has sought international recognition without much success.
Somalia has been at the forefront in discouraging the international community against offering Somaliland any sort of recognition.