Somaliland Responds to Somalia’s Prime minister over the deportation in Lasanod region

The foreign affairs ministry of Somaliland has reacted to the recent statement made by Somalia’s Prime minister Mohamed Hussein Rooble to condemn Somaliland’s decision to expel hundreds of Somalia born citizens residing in Lasanod, citing security matters.

In the statement, Somaliland foreign affairs stated that Prime minister Roble shared baseless accusations regarding the matter and added that they will not have its record be distorted by neighbouring Somalia whose inability to meet its own internal and external governance responsibilities has led it to lash out at others in order to distract the international community from its own deficiencies.

Somaliland believes that this is beyond the bounds of diplomatic decorum for the neighbouring government of Somalia to interfere with the Somaliland Government’s exercising of sovereign remit, with regards to a security threat on its territory.

They also underlined and emphasised that the decision to deport more than a thousand people was motivated by issues pertaining to security, including appeals from the local communities and authorities in Las Anod district. Intelligence reports and consultations provided clear indication that these individuals were putting the safety of the local population at risk.

Somaliland clarified to maintain close and cooperative relations with all its neighbours, including over issues of migration and border control, which it conducts with all due adherence to international law.