Somaliland Suspends UN Programs in Protest

Somaliland announced that it suspended all cooperation with United Nations (UN) agencies on the implementation of humanitarian aid programs.

In a written statement made by the Somaliland Ministry of Planning and Development, it was stated that cooperation with UN agencies was suspended.

The speculation is that this decision is a direct response to an agreement reached between Somalia and the UN on UN programs. Accordingly, donors to Somaliland will channel their funds and support through the Federal Government. Somaliland wants donations to be made directly. The ministry did not give a statement as to why the cooperation with the UN was suspended.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) was established on 3 June 2013 by UN Security Council Resolution 2102.

The UN and its agencies treat Somaliland Republic as if it is a part and a parcel of Somalia and there is currently no UN office or UN envoy exclusive to Somaliland, despite the UN’s awareness of the Somaliland stand on this topic and the reality that the two countries have been separate with no formal contact for almost 30 years.

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was created by the African Union on 19th January 2007 with an initial six-month mandate designed to bring stability and peace to Somalia. UNISOM has never intervened in the Somaliland issues and its troops have never set a foot in an areas under the control of the Somaliland government

This decision by the Somaliland government has been overdue for quite some time now. Somaliland is different from Somalia and it can no longer deal with the extensions of UN offices in Mogadishu.