Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Somaliland President Muse Bihi have agreed to resume negotiations and formulate a roadmap to address longstanding disputes, according to reports.
The consultative meeting, mediated by Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, concluded on Friday, facilitating discussions between Mahmoud and Bihi to enhance bilateral cooperation.
According to the Somali National News Agency (SONNA), the parties agreed to initiate dialogue with a focus on resolving longstanding issues and working towards a permanent solution. The outcome of the meeting includes a commitment to develop a roadmap, which will serve as a guideline for future discussions and issue resolution.
The agreement encompasses joint commitments made in previous meetings held between 2012 and 2020 in various international cities. Additionally, the governments acknowledged the recognition by the government of Somalia of past killings, atrocities, and destruction caused by the military government in Somaliland (northern regions).
Both parties committed to addressing security issues independently and jointly, with a specific focus on combating terrorism and resolving emerging disputes. The meeting concluded with expressions of gratitude to Djibouti for hosting the negotiations.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not received official recognition, operates as an independent entity administratively, politically, and security-wise. However, the central government has struggled to establish control over the territory or secure its independence.
Despite previous talks in Djibouti in 2020, the unresolved contentious issues have hindered significant progress, leading to a failure to reach an agreement.