Switzerland is ready to host talks between the Republic of Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia, an official said.
Somaliland Foreign minister Saad Ali Shire told the media in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland on Saturday, that the talks would be held soon, without giving specific dates.
“The talks between the two sides will restart in Switzerland soon,” he said.
However, Dr. Shire stated that a preliminary meeting between presidents Muse Bihi Abdi of Somaliland and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo of Somalia would be held in neighboring Djibouti.
“The two sides will set the agenda of the talks in Switzerland during the preliminary discussions in Djibouti,” said Dr. Shire.
A London conference on Somalia in May 2013 welcomed the dialogue between Somaliland and the Federal Government in Ankara, Turkey in the preceding month, to clarify their future relationship.
Conference participants encouraged further talks between the two sides.
While Mogadishu insists on the unity of Somalia as paramount, the leaders of the Republic of Somaliland want to secure secession it declared in May 1991.
Somaliland is the authority that governs the country formerly known as British Somaliland Protectorate, which gained independence from the UK on June 26, 1960, but later joined with former Italian-ruled Somalia, to form the Republic of Somalia on July 1, 1960.
Although Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from the rest of Somalia, the country remains unrecognized by the international community.
