Somaliland Government berates Somalia for politicizing humanitarian and developmental aid

Hargeisa, (Somaliland.com) – The Somaliland government had on Monday exhibited its disapproval of Somalia’s act of politicizing humanitarian and developmental aid from the European Union by issuing a press statement debunking the claim made by Somalia.

The Somaliland Ministry of Planning and National Development issued a press statement on behalf of the Republic of Somaliland where it washed its hands off whatever agreement Somalia claims to have reached with the EU as regards the infrastructural development of Berbera port city of Somaliland. The press release emphasised that the agreement covers only Mogadishu as the Federal Government of Somalia can neither represent nor sign any form of agreement on behalf of the Republic of Somaliland in matters that concern her and her territories.

The press release also made it known that the Republic of Somaliland view Somalia’s claim as a breach of the Ankara and Djibouti Communiqués in which both countries (Somaliland and Somalia) agreed to work together to ensure the effective utilisation of developmental assistance, and that both countries would refrain from politicising the aids so granted.

Lastly, the Somaliland Ministry of Planning and National Development regrets that the government of Somalia is using tax payers money to damage the integrity of the Republic of Somaliland, and calls on Somalia government to desist from acts which go against the Communiqué on developmental projects.

This statement comes after the Federal Government of Somalia had on Saturday claimed to have signed an agreement with the European Union to undertake developmental projects worth €23 million in the coastal cities of Mogadishu and Berbera with €15.5 million and €7.5 million allocated to Mogadishu and Berbera respectively.

Somali Minister of Planning Mr Jamal Mohamed Hassan and the EU Director-General of International Cooperation and Development Mr Stefano Manservisi reportedly signed the agreement in Mogadishu in the presence of Somali Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khayre.

Here is the full statement from the Somaliland Ministry of Planning :

Press Statement on Somalia’s Horrendous Act on Politicizing Aid

The Ministry of Planning and National Development fulfilling its mandate to administer, facilitate and coordinate the role of international development partners is hereby responding and clarifying to the public and our international development partners that:

1. The Government of Somaliland, represented by the Ministry of Planning and National Development, is deeply regretting Muqadisho politicizing the agenda towards the development assistance and cooperation between Somaliland and its development partners. In accordance with the Ankara and Djibouti Communiques, in which the two parties (Somaliland and Somalia) agreed to work together by ensuring that the development assistance he more effective and that aid would not be politicized, but it looks that our neighbouring Muqadisho administration is breaking this agreement again as they did several times before;
2. The Government of Somaliland has the sole decision making to decide on all matters concerning Somaliland and its affairs, and the press statement s made by the Federal Government of Somalia concerning the so called “Eng. Yarisow Project” have nothing to do with Somaliland and only concerns Mugadisho;
3. The Government of Somaliland has collaborated with the European Union about the INCLUCITY – Support to inclusive develoent project, and the project is considered to be fully aligned with Somaliand’s National Development Plan II as indicated in the project document, and the Grant Agreement of the project will be signed by the Government of Somaliland, represented by the Ministry of Planning and National Development;
4. The Government of Somaliland is regretting that the Mugadisho is using the tax payers money of the European Union countries to damage the integrity of Somaliland and its people.
5. The Government of Somaliland will not accept anything that jeopardizes its sovereignty.
6. The Federal Government of Somalia’s approach only jeopardizes the regional stability and creates animosity between the peoples of the two countries.
7. We call upon the Government of Somalia to refrain from such acts that are contravening existing agreements and do not serve any useful purpose.