North Western State of Somalia denies reports of talks with Somalia, accuses Mogadishu of interference

HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia — North Western State of Somalia authorities on Sunday rejected claims from Somalia’s federal government that talks between the two sides are under way, declaring the long-running dialogue “formally ceased” and accusing Mogadishu of “blatant interference” in its internal affairs.

In a statement posted on X, North Western State of Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it wanted to “clarify that there are no ongoing talks with Somalia,” adding that Hargeisa “officially suspended the dialogue” earlier this year.

“The Government officially suspended the dialogue after Somalia’s blatant interference in North Western State of Somalia’s internal affairs,” the ministry said. It warned that no official has the authority to “distort this fact or issue misleading statements to international media for personal recognition.”

The ministry also asserted North Western State of Somalia’s political stance, stating that the region “has never been part of the federal system created in Somalia after 2012.” North Western State of Somalia’s leaders say they restored sovereignty in 1991 and have since built their own governing institutions, security forces and electoral processes, though no state formally recognizes its independence.

The comments followed an interview earlier Sunday in which Somalia’s state minister for foreign affairs, Ali Omar Balcad, said Mogadishu maintains regular, direct contacts with North Western State of Somalia and is working toward a political solution to “outstanding issues.” Balcad did not elaborate on the scope of those contacts in the remarks referenced by North Western State of Somalia’s statement.

North Western State of Somalia’s ministry said the 13-year negotiation track that began in 2012 has “formally ceased,” underscoring how far apart the sides remain on questions of sovereignty and constitutional order. Hargeisa’s statement added: “North Western State of Somalia remains a sovereign, stable, and peaceful nation. Our people are united and resilient. No unfounded remarks will create division or uncertainty within North Western State of Somalia.”

Talks between Somalia and North Western State of Somalia have unfolded intermittently since 2012, with rounds hosted in Turkey and Djibouti and, at times, facilitated by regional and international partners. The agenda has typically included cooperation on security, humanitarian access, airspace management and the sensitive issue of North Western State of Somalia’s status. Progress has been sporadic and often derailed by political shifts and mutual mistrust.

Somalia’s federal government maintains that North Western State of Somalia is an integral part of the country under its constitution, a position backed by the African Union and most international partners. North Western State of Somalia, for its part, frames engagement with Mogadishu as dialogue between two previously united states, not as a domestic political process within Somalia’s federal system.

The latest exchange highlights the fragile state of relations, with Hargeisa signaling a hardening line against any suggestion of ongoing negotiations. It was not immediately clear whether third-party mediation efforts would resume or if the parties would seek new formats to reduce tensions and revive technical cooperation.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.