Sunday March 31, 2024
Hargiesa (HOL) - Somaliland's Minister of Information, Ali Hassan Mohamed, known as Ali Marehaan, stated on Saturday that the new Constitution approved by the Parliament of Somalia does not apply to Somaliland regions.
In an interview with SAHAN TV, the Minister emphasized that the people of Somaliland have never been part of Somalia's Constitution.
"Somalia is a state of our neighbours. The Constitution does not concern us. Even in 1960, when a constitution was voted on, we rejected it as it was just for them," said Minister Ali Marehaan.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but no country has recognized its sovereignty in the decades since.
On Saturday, the Parliament unanimously approved proposals to overhaul the country's electoral system and reintroduce universal suffrage. This plan has been criticized by former Presidents and ex-Prime Ministers, alongside some other politicians and Puntland State.
However, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud underlined that the amended Constitution is grounded in Islamic Sharia and Somali culture, highlighting the importance of the Somali government in finalizing the Constitution.
Puntland's regional administration announced its withdrawal of recognition of the Federal Government of Somalia, citing the constitutional amendments as a violation of the federal pact that has historically unified the country.