Saturday August 24, 2024
Somalia's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, addresses key issues during a government meeting in Mogadishu, emphasizing the enforcement of directives aimed at safeguarding the nation's territorial integrity. CREDIT / SONNA
Mogadishu (HOL) — The federal government has issued a strict order requiring all remittance companies and businesses operating in Somalia, explicitly addressing Paysii, Dahabshiil, Jubba Express, and other financial institutions, to eliminate any references to "Somaliland" from their websites and financial services. The memo, aimed at reinforcing Somalia's territorial integrity, will take effect on September 1, with violators facing legal consequences under Somali law.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in a statement released on Saturday, emphasized that the use of "Somaliland" undermines the sovereignty and unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The ministry warned that companies failing to comply would be seen as violating the nation's independence and could be subject to severe penalties.
The directive is part of Somalia's effort to ensure that all entities operating within its borders adhere to the official stance that Somaliland remains part of Somalia. The government has recently taken similar actions, including enforcing compliance by international airlines.
Earlier this week, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) narrowly avoided suspending Ethiopian Airlines after the carrier complied with demands to label Somali destinations on its booking platforms correctly. The airline, which initially used only airport codes to bypass the issue, has since updated its system to reflect the correct naming conventions required by the SCAA.
Flydubai, a state-owned airline from the United Arab Emirates, also complied swiftly with the SCAA's directive by removing the term "Somaliland" from its booking page and correctly listing "Hargeisa, Somalia" as the destination.
The dispute between Somalia and the self-declared Republic of Somaliland has escalated in recent months, particularly after Somaliland's controversial agreement in January to allow landlocked Ethiopia to establish a naval base on its coastline. The deal also includes the construction of a port and a transport corridor.
Somalia and Somaliland have been at odds since 1991 when Somaliland declared independence from Somalia following the collapse of the central government. Despite the self-declared independence, Somaliland's sovereignty has not been recognized internationally. The federal government in Mogadishu maintains that Somaliland remains a part of Somalia and has consistently opposed any actions that imply otherwise.