HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) — The Republic of Yemen has sent four-member delegation consisting of diplomats and investors to Somaliland on Sunday ahead of the opening of diplomatic office by Yemen in Hargeisa.

According to sources close to the government, the office will serve mainly to carry out consular functions for Yemeni citizens. It will also work toward fostering trade and improving diplomatic contacts between Hargeisa and Sana’a.

The decision to open office in Hargeisa came after the two states recognized growing economic and political cooperation between the two red-sea nations.

Yemen provided no timeline but the office is expected to be opened some time this week.

Reports also added that Yemen was concerned about Islamists movements in Somalia, after al-Shabab group pledged it would send fighters to help an al-Qaeda affiliate in the country.

Yemen’s foreign minister, Abu Bakr al-Qirbi said his country would not tolerate threats and foreign fighters on it’s soil and it is believed now Yemen is going on the offensive by supporting Somaliland.

Yemen is also facing economic and social burdens due to the unrest in parts of the country and the continuous exodus of illegal migrants from the Horn of Africa, who are said to be more than 800,000 refugees. More than 60 per cent are believed to be from Somalia, a country that has been mired in conflict since 1991.
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Yemen and Somaliland have historical and economical ties since 1840 when southern part of Yemen (Aden) was annexed by the British and shortly after, Somaliland became British protectorate. The British established trade with Somaliland mainly to supply mutton to it’s Aden garrison.

This contact initiated Somaliland livestock trade which made it’s way to Yemeni cities and later on the lucrative business attracted Yemeni traders and continued well after the British had left. The Yemenis along with Somali traders later opened other key markets for Somaliland livestock including Saudi Arabia.

Yemen will become the first Arab nation to have diplomatic office in Somaliland. No one knows how other Arab League members such as Egypt and Djibouti would react to the Yemeni move.

Egypt and Djibouti are strongly opposed to Somaliland recognition fearing fearing economic insecurities – Egypt feels it will loose control of the Nile while Djibouti fears the port of Berbera will replace it’s port. However, unconfirmed reports suggest that Djibouti is due to open an office that has an embassy status in Hargeisa after Yemen.

Somalilandpress, 15th March 2010

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1 COMMENT

  1. Always nice to see Somaliland opening up to its Neighbours.. We are against any sort of extremist groups and Somaliland and Yemen need to work together to fight this and make use of the Red Sea

  2. Welcome Yemen together we could tuckle those fanatics in Somalia that call themselves warriors of Islam, instead a evil men who brought disgrace to our peace loving religion and people.

    We also need to tuckle the boat people together as many drown and this is a concern for us Somaliland because it hurts us when we see young men and women swashed along Yemeni beaches liveless.

    These activities are profited by the evil people of Puntland who are smugglers and also pirates.

    We also understand that with Somalia, Yemen can loose alot including the island of Socotra but with Somaliland, Yemen has a lot to gain. Dont listen to Saudi Arabia, the next big oil promise is in Somaliland and all Saudi oil will travel to Somaliland since its lower and its off-shore.

  3. It is also worth knowing that Yemen has issues with Eritrea over some islands that is believed to be now being used by the Israeli navy, Djibouti is the same over land as well.

    If the Arabs do not satisfy Hargeisa as we all know currently Israel is eyeing the region, Yemen and other Arabs could see more problems coming from across the Gulf.

    Israel will stay in Eritrea but its not strategic enough according to reports, what they need is Berbera because from here they could spy and listen to Yemen, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and even Oman.

    They could easily launch military attacks from Berbera to target all those nations above and also Iran – dont forget USA used this facility in Berbera in 1980s during the desert storm (Iraq invasion) and so if USA was able to reach that region in 1980, dont you think Israel can 30 years later?

    Somaliland is the most important region in the world right now, it can decide who controls what.

  4. I don't believe we will benefit out of this office at all. Furthermore, this office should only be a Trade Office and not Counsullar office, because Somaliland should only accept Ambasadorial level when a full recognition comes at the later stage, which is coming soon. I foresee they ]Yemenis believe, this is so called office will represent that since Somliland is part of Somalia, its normal that we open a Counsullar office.

  5. Though i am all for Somaliland, does anyone else think Socotra is far more proximate to Somalia and should really be part of Somalia. Just look at the map it is virtually just off Somalia. Why do Yemen's water's reach so far as this means it is encroaching on Somalia's waters which are small compared to the waters of the much smaller nation Yemen.

    I know some people will come with the whole anti somalia issue but my comment is totally unrelated to Somaliland's independence. soo chill out…

  6. ''Yemen and Somaliland have historical and economical ties since 1840 when southern part of Yemen (Aden) was annexed by the British and shortly after, Somaliland became British protectorate'''

    is it me or whenever somaliland's history is mentioned it starts with the british occupying berbera…. subxana allah…. yemeni and somali history is beyond 1840…

  7. @rotterdam. I know what you mean. Whenever people writes of Somaliland history as if it begins with the British rule, they do a disservice to our nation. They also ignore and make a mockery of our thousands of years of history and civilisation when they say that the Somali people came into existance with the union of an Arab man and a native Ethiopian woman. What a disgrace that people are prepared to belittle their heritage for whatever reason!! Instead of all this colonisation and Arabisation nonsense, we should excavate our land, build national museums and galaries, and fill them with our past and present glory. Have some pride for goodness sake!!!

  8. @Rotterdam1994
    @Abraham

    Learn history and then talk; don’t make up history that doesn’t exist. If your mind is that polluted, and it cannot function properly as it should. I will suggest that it should be washed, and then clean of that which soils it. Honestly you guys from Somalia needs psychologist to help you with your problems. If anyone of you have a documented facts to present other than a words from your mouth, be my guest.

  9. Learn history and then talk; don’t make up history that doesn’t exist. If your mind is that -polluted-, and it cannot function properly as it should. I will suggest that it should be washed, and then clean of that which soils it. Honestly you guy from Somalia needs -psychologists- to help you with your problems. If anyone of you have a documented facts to present other than a words from your mouth, be my guest

  10. Learn history and then talk; don’t make up history that doesn’t exist. If your mind is that polluted, and it cannot function properly as it should. I will suggest that it should be washed, and then clean of that which soils it. Honestly you guy from sSomalia needs p-psychologists to help you with your problems. If anyone of you have a documented facts to present other than a words from your mouth, be my guest

  11. Learn history and then talk; don’t make up history that doesn’t exist. If your mind is that pollutedd, and it cannot function properly as it should. I will suggest that it should be washed, and then clean of that which soils it. Honestly you guy from Somalia needs psychologists to help you with your problems. If anyone of you have a documented facts to present other than a words from your mouth, be my guest.

  12. Learn history and then talk; don’t make up history that doesn’t exist. If your mind is that pollutedd, and it cannot function properly as it should. I will suggest that it should be washed, and then clean of that which soils it. Honestly you guy from Somalia needs ppsychologists to help you with your problems. If anyone of you have a documented facts to present other than a words from your mouth, be my guest.

  13. Learn history and then talk; don’t make up history that doesn’t exist. If your mind is that pollutedd, and it cannot function properly as it should. I will suggest that it should be washed, and then clean of that which soils it.

  14. Honestly you guy from Somalia needs psychologists to help you with your problems. If anyone of you have a documented facts to present other than a words from your mouth, be my guest.

  15. Honestly you guy from Somalia needs ppsychologists to help you with your problems. If anyone of you have a documented facts to present other than a words from your mouth, be my guest.

  17. If anyone of you have a documented facts to present other than a words, be my guest.

  18. If anyone of you have a documented facts to present other than a words from your mouth, please go ahead.

  21. We need to know, about the history that you revering to do you have any documented papers that support your ideas other than a words???

  22. We need to know, about the history that you revering to, do you have papers that support your words, that there was a country called Somalia before 1960 or that we were united??? I doubt that you will find such thing coz it doesn’t exist.

  23. Learn history and then talk; don’t make up history that doesn’t exist. If your mind is that polluted, and it cannot function properly as it should. I will suggest that it should be washed, and then clean of that which soils it. Honestly you guy from Somalia needs psychologists to help you with your problems. If anyone of you have a documented facts to present other than a words from your mouth, be my guest

  24. Firstly Israel, secondly Yemen thirtly south of africa, somaliland will be recognized this year before summer.
    i swear

  25. We don't know that research. So, we don't need get our hopes too high yet. It will definitely be sometime in the future though. But the signals that world is sending look very promising.

  26. Somaliland may be recognize or it may not recognise. With or without recognition don't forget it will be always our home. For me Somaliland will be my home either way if International community recognise it should make it sure what had happened in Somalia should not happend to Somaliland.

    Getting recognized nation is one thing, keeping it safe and make it work is more difficult. It is like groom looking for partner but no one know what future hold for them. Somaliland would be easily recognise just for one single reason and that is there is NO SOMALIA today;therefore, the world community would have no choice. But if Somalia recover fast, it will be another game all together. I wonder, if Somaliland recognise and face the same situation Somalia had done it. Somali will be always Somali and Somaliland may become Somalia itself if recognised. I hope for the best though i'm very caution. There is no plan inplace just recognition but what does that do for us if we would back to Somalia again.

  27. @ayaanle. A possible Somalia recovery should never hinder Somaliland's independence. Just look at Taiwan. No body recognises it, yet no body dares attack it !! They are just too strong for its enemies. They are what they are now because they elected the right leaders and put their country's interest before anything else. Honestly, I do not care that much about Somaliland's recognition as recognition will not solve all our problems. However, I very hope that the people of Somaliland would put aside their petty tribal differences and choose the right people with the right credentials for leadership and offices of authority and national importance. That is why, we need to educate people about real democracy and representation. We need to teach our people about accountability. There is no benefit in getting international recognition and thereafter electing men who have no respect for the law to run our country, steal from our public covers, and put Somaliland in huge interest levied debt. Africa is awash with such incompetent corrupt despots, and as a result is the beggar of the World despite its enormous natural wealth.

  28. Everyone is giving up on Somalia, that place is hopeless all the countries refused to have Somali embassy how sad. They are just in history pages like Yogaslavia nothing more.

    Somaliland has hope and its working towards its goal.

    What does leaving Somalia mean to me:
    Somalilanders under Somalia:
    literacy: 25%
    Schools: <5
    Universities: <2
    Employment: 99% unemployed
    health: life expec. 40

    Somalilanders under Somaliland:
    literacy: 45% goal (75% by 2015)
    Schools: +300
    Universities: 10+
    Life expect.: 70

    Now which one is better?

  29. Ibrahim, I agreed what you say and it important for our people to understand what real democracy is meant. Electing a right person who can do the job and have the experiences to do his/her job is the way for Somaliland to secceed and never return to Somali problems. Our only problems is to build Somaliland is foundation on clan and I'm sure that will put us what we want to get away. Don't see or heard people in Somalia always repeated Somaliland is clan system, you know why? because they know soon we admitted that they know it won't work.
    To be honest, i'm interersting and i may one day become Somaliland politician but that will depend on the democracy idea;however, if our people put clans before the "D" i can only limitted myself S.land my home. No one can runaway problems that facing one is home and there are other things one can do without participating clan political. Since we are not recognise yet, it is important people to understand where are we heading. Are we heading pure democracy country or are we still have clan system in our hearts while we pretending DEMOCRACY NATION. Choice is clear stuck clan system or Democracy. Choice is clear clan system or Democracy.

  30. A gossip in the internet that Israel is ready to recognize Somaliland and the Arab World wake up out of its amnesia. I won't be suprised if all Arab League nations follow Yemeni steps. However, we in Somaliland should not take gratitude on that. Instead, we should consolidate and protect what we have achieved so far, and strive fore more. Recognisation or non-recognisation, we should always remember that it is we and only WE, who can build our nation, protect its people and develop its land. Walaahu Tawfiq.