Unfounded Report on Somaliland’s Military Leadership
A posting that went viral on social media earlier this week stated that Somaliland would sever ties with the West and turn its diplomatic relationships toward China and Russia in the event that opposition parties win the next elections. The assertion has intensified the current discussion concerning Somaliland’s strategic orientation, given the impression that Western allies are not providing enough backing.
The military of Somaliland has formally refuted rumors that appeared on its Facebook page. The paper called for a realignment of international alliances and attacked a number of countries and political parties.
Military spokesperson Abdirahman Abdillahi “Abdidheere” made a crystal-clear, direct declaration during a news briefing. He explained that the controversial social media posting was incorrectly ascribed to the military commander’s office and did not represent the official position of the Somaliland military. “This document should not be interpreted as a declaration of our foreign policy objectives because it misrepresents our position,” Abdillahi said.
The military underlined that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the only entity with authority over foreign policy and reiterated its dedication to political neutrality. The military apologizes for any uncertainty this may have caused, the spokesman continued, and we assure our domestic and international partners that the values of peaceful collaboration and respect for international conventions continue to guide our foreign policy.
The spokesperson only provided information on the Facebook post’s author, stating that it was an anonymous military member who had apparently received swift disciplinary punishment. More extensive conversations about Somaliland’s foreign ties, particularly with Western countries, have resulted from the incident.