Somalia / Somaliland summit in Djibouti: a roadmap under study

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The summit on the Somali question continued Monday, June 15 in Djibouti. The country has held since Sunday historic talks between Somalia and Somaliland, a territory that seceded in 1991 without being recognized by the international community. Somaliland President Muse Bihi and Somalian President Mohamed Farmajo spoke. Peace still seems far away, but the first steps have been taken.

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With our correspondent in Nairobi, Sébastien Németh

After the speeches, Monday was devoted to the first technical work. A roadmap is under study. A committee made up of representatives from Somalia and Somaliland is working on it. “  Neither Djiboutians nor Ethiopians participate. But if there is a blockage, the two parties can turn to Addis Ababa and us,  ”explains Daoud Houmed, spokesman for the ruling majority in Djibouti.

The agenda is unknown, but the President of Somaliland has been clear: peace will only be possible if Mogadishu recognizes Hargeisa's independence. "  This question does not seem to have an echo from the Somali head of state. But in the long term we will certainly reach a compromise,  ”confides a diplomatic source.

In any case, the negotiations promise to be long and arduous . For Rashid Abdi, "  after a high-level meeting to break the ice, we will need confidence-building measures before we can, in a year, tackle the fundamental problems  ".

The researcher also places this summit in the regional context. For him, Ethiopia needs a peace between its neighbors because Addis Abéba wishes to use the maritime infrastructures of Somaliland without offending Mogadishu. As for Djibouti, Rashid Abdi thinks that the initiative also aims to improve his chances of winning a seat on the UN Security Council tomorrow. "  It has nothing to do ," retorts Daoud Houmed, who believes that Djibouti has been following the case for 20 years and that this summit was planned for a long time  .

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• Djibouti
• Somalia
• Somaliland

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Somalia and Somaliland hold historic summit in Djibouti