Somalia cuts diplomatic ties with Guinea over Somaliland

The Somali government on Thursday severed its diplomatic ties with Guinea, saying the west African nation has violated the sovereignty and unity of Somalia.

Ahmed Isse Awad, Somalia's minister for foreign affairs and international cooperation, said Guinea accorded Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi all protocols befitting a head of state contrary to the UN and Africa Union resolutions.

"The Federal Government of Somalia has decided to cut all diplomatic relationship with the Republic of Guinea," Awad told a news conference after a cabinet meeting in Mogadishu.

"The decision follows after Guinea has accorded the protocol of Head of State in Conakry, Guinea to the leader of a separatist movement in Somaliland in the north of Somalia thus disregarding callously all the relevant resolutions of the UN and Africa Union consensus," he added.

The Somaliland leader is currently on a visit to Conakry at the invitation of Guinea President Alpha Conde.

"Somalia denounces this in the strongest of terms and considers it a blatant and egregious violation of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Somalia by the Republic of Guinea," said the minister.

Awad also warned other countries against violating the sovereignty and unity of Somalia by forging closer ties with leaders of Somaliland.

The minister said the Horn of Africa nation believes in the established principles of non-interference in internal affairs of sovereign states.

"Somali will not tolerate others to hinder our efforts of reconciling our people and building consensus for democratic governance structures and responsible state institutions," Awad warned.

Somaliland, which declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, has of late been on shuttle diplomacy to build Somaliland's case for recognition.

The semi-autonomous region which has enjoyed relative peace and stability has argued that it is capable of trading with African and international partners.