Somaliland Restates Control of its Waters in light of Recent Development
Hargeisa, Aug 9, 2013 (SDN) — Somaliland government declared its stance on recently maritime law enforcement contract between the ministry of Defense of the Federal government of Somalia and private maritime security group Atlantic Marine and Offshore (AMO) and the following is the press release issued by Somaliland Foreign Minister Mr. Mohamed Behi Yonis
‘In response to the apparent signature on 30 July 2013 of a maritime law enforcement contract between the ministry of Defense of the Federal government of Somalia and private maritime security group Atlantic Marine and Offshore (AMO), the government of the Republic of Somaliland wishes to reiterate that it doesn’t recognize, and rejects outright, any attempt by the Federal Government of Somalia to control, regulate or seek to exercise jurisdiction in the waters adjacent to the territory to Somaliland.
On 18 May 1991 Somaliland reasserted its independence, a status that it briefly enjoyed following the end of British colonial rule on 26 June, just prior to its voluntary entry into union with Italian Somalia. Somaliland’s constitution, adopted by popular referendum in 2001, and its 1995 fisheries law confirm the government of Somaliland and its adjacent maritime Zones, and its exclusive right to exercise jurisdiction and sovereign rights within its territorial and maritime boundaries.
The government of the Republic of Somaliland welcomes efforts by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to strengthen the security of its maritime zones in accordance with international law. The Republic of Somaliland has been cooperating with the international community and the FGS on issues of regional maritime governance, security and resource management through the “Kampala Process” The process was initiated in 2010 as a platform for technical cooperation and was recently endorsed at the 2013 London Conference on Somalia.
The government of Somaliland and Somalia are currently working together to finalize a maritime Resource and Security Strategy aimed at consolidating toxic waste dumping. The strategy aims to strengthen collaboration and ensure greater coordination of donor assistance, in line with the Ankara communiqué signed by the two governments in April 2013 as part of the bilateral Somaliland –Somalia Dialogue. The government of the republic of Somaliland looks forward to continuing the Dialogue on the basis laid out in the Ankara Communiqué.’
SDN Hargeisa