MOGADISHU, 06 July. - (ANA) - Somalia has cut diplomatic relations with Guinea after the head of the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland visited the West African country, the foreign ministry in Mogadishu has said.

 

Somaliland declared its independence in 1991 but is not recognised by the international community, which considers it an autonomous region of Somalia.

The foreign ministry in a statement Thursday said the government had cut all diplomatic ties after Guinea "accorded the protocol of head of state... to the leader of a separatist movement".

 

The statement accused Guinea of "disregarding callously all the relevant resolutions of the UN and African consensus".

Somaliland President Muse Bihi and his delegation reportedly met officials in Guinea to discuss establishing a formal relationship.

 

The Somaliland government has made no official statement about the visit so far.

 

 

 

 

Formerly a British protectorate, Somaliland merged with former Italian Somaliland in 1960 to create Somalia.

 

But it seceded and declared itself independent in 1991 as Somalia plunged into chaos after the fall of autocrat Siad Barre.

 

AB/ANA/06 July 2019 - - -