By Tom Mwangi, Africa editor
Nairobi, Kenya – Djibouti President Ismail Guelleh has dismissed reports that his country plans to recognize Somaliland as an independent nation.
In an interview with a French newspaper, Jeune Afrique on Thursday, Guelleh said that Djibouti would become the last country to do so if other countries recognized Somaliland as an independent state.
Speculation had been rife that Djibouti, which is located in the Horn of Africa, would be the next country to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, making it the last country to do so.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has been seeking international recognition ever since. To date, however, no country has formally recognized Somaliland’s independence.
Mr. Guelleh’s comments come amid ongoing conflict in Laasaanod, a city in eastern Sool region in Somaliland, pitting Somaliland forces and tribal militias amid allegations that Djibouti is involved in the fighting by supporting Somaliland.
The conflict has been ongoing for several months, and has resulted in hundreds of deaths and forced thousands of people to flee their homes.
However, President Guelleh denied these allegations, stating that Djibouti is not involved in the conflict and is committed to promoting peace and stability in the region.
President Guelleh’s statement indicates that Djibouti is taking a cautious approach to the issue of recognizing Somaliland’s independence.
In the interview, he said that while Djibouti respects the sovereignty of Somalia, it believes that the recognition of Somaliland’s independence should be based on a regional consensus.
He went on to say that Djibouti supports the African Union’s position on the issue, which is to promote dialogue and cooperation between Somalia and Somaliland.
Somaliland, which has its own government, military, and currency, has been praised for its stability and democracy in a region plagued by conflict and authoritarianism.
Nevertheless, its lack of international recognition has hampered its economic development and limited its ability to engage in international trade and diplomacy.
Despite this setback, Somaliland’s government has remained optimistic about its future.
In a recent interview, Somaliland’s president Muse Bihi expressed hope that Somaliland’s independence would eventually be recognized by the international community, saying “it’s not a matter of if, but when.”
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