Somaliland: Opposition Leader Criticizes Mogadishu Forum

HARGEISA — Somaliland’s Justice and Welfare party (UCID) leader Faysal Ali Warabe has criticized National Consultative Forum underway in Mogadishu over foreign dominance on Monday.

Speaking to reporters in Somaliland capital, Hargeisa, the pugnacious politician faulted any political agreement on model for electoral transition on ‘quasi federal member states’ and agendas of international partners.

“United Somali stand is missing and their political say has been hijacked. The country is no longer a viable sovereign state,” claimed the opposition leader, adding that Somaliland would never be part of ongoing state building efforts.

He warned of reports of forming an interim regional administration for disputed Sool and Sanaag regions.

“Regional administrations are on increase, and just spurred a competition. Now there comes a time that some people are saying, let’s set up a new admin in Sool and Sanaag regions,” he added.

Somaliland opposes self-declared Khaatumo administration and fought local clans in deadly clashes in the past.

Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia declared its independence from the rest of the country as de facto sovereign state in 1991 but it has not been recognized internationally yet.