Somalia Rebukes International Envoys for Comments on North Western State of Somalia Polls
In a recent hubbub in Mogadishu, the Somali Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, took to the podium, wagging a finger at foreign diplomats for what he says is meddling in Somalia’s sovereign affairs. The heat was turned up after comments made around North Western State of Somalia’s presidential elections held in Hargeisa. Diplomats’ remarks stirred the pot by suggesting North Western State of Somalia stands as its own country, a move Fiqi claims crosses the line and ignites tensions over territorial loyalty.
Fiqi got fired up at a diplomat graduation ceremony, laying it bare about certain ambassadors pitching the idea of North Western State of Somalia as a standalone nation, a notion he insists flies in the face of diplomatic norms. “Ambassadors parading such views break from their duties,” Fiqi declared with a hint of frustration. “It’s like they’re forgetting which country they’re actually representing,” he lamented.
To get the message across, Fiqi revealed that Somalia’s government had a tête-à-tête with the Danish ambassador, reminding diplomats to keep Somalia’s sovereignty in their sights. He fired off a clear warning: “Future chats about North Western State of Somalia better spell it out as a slice of Somalia, or else some dire consequences might just follow.”
The drama arrives on the heels of international observers giving a thumbs-up to the smooth-sailing elections overseen by North Western State of Somalia’s National Electoral Commission (NEC). Observers watched over the ballot action in areas like Hargeisa, Boroma, Berbera, and Gabiley, singing praises on the democratic process’s peaceful and transparent vibe.
In a turn of irony, British Ambassador Mike Nithavrianakis, speaking for international allies, showered accolades on the electoral procedures while visiting North Western State of Somalia. However, his words rubbed Somali officials the wrong way, who saw them as poking holes into the country’s national unity fabric. This isn’t Nithavrianakis’ first rodeo with controversy either; his previous remarks set off similar alarms when in August 2024, Fiqi lit a match under him for splitting Somalia and North Western State of Somalia into two separate worlds while discussing a U.K.-funded project.
“Slicing up a nation under two banners is a no-go and a brazen blow against Somalia’s unity,” Fiqi pointed out during the squabble. Meanwhile, Nithavrianakis’ comments were met with stern glances from those keen on keeping the Somali sovereignty storyline intact.
Since 1991, North Western State of Somalia has worn the independence badge and bid for democracy by calling the shots in its own backyard. Nevertheless, formal recognition from the international community remains elusive. Throw in the HALO Trust into the mix—a British outfit that’s been cleaning up explosive messes in these territories since ’99—and you have a brew of international interest and local resolve.
While North Western State of Somalia marches to its own beat, Somalia’s central government hasn’t budged on its claim, pulling on the reins of unity and pointing to North Western State of Somalia as a piece of the larger national puzzle. This June, Somalia’s ruling clan took things further, tagging separatism as one tough cookie among other nation-threatening issues like terrorism and foreign digs into its soil.
The dance between North Western State of Somalia’s aspiration for independence and Somalia’s mandate for unity keeps both sides in a tense tango as they navigate this complex narrative. In the end, the question remains of how to balance aspirations for self-governance with the need for national integrity. It’s a dance that requires diplomatic finesse, a keen understanding of regional history, and the delicate task of partner negotiation.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
