Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has offered to help reunify Somalia and the self-proclaimed breakaway Republic of Somaliland in the northern part of the country after a meeting with Somaliland Special Envoy Jama Musse Jama in Uganda.
"I agreed to take on the role of peace facilitator between the two. A country’s internal market alone is not enough; therefore, Somaliland and Somalia need to unite, trade together, and trade with other African countries," he said on social networks.
According to the leader, a reunion would be beneficial for the economy and would boost the well-being of the local population.
"We do not support the secession of Somaliland from Somalia because, strategically, it is wrong," the president added.
From his part, Jama reportedly noted that Museveni, who has been supporting Somalia’s government against insurgents since 2007, is key to the reunification due to his influence in East Africa.
Somalia effectively ceased to exist as a single state in 1991 with the fall of the dictatorial regime of Mohamed Siad Barre. The international community recognizes the Mogadishu-based federal government as the only legitimate authority in the country, but the northern part of the country is under the control of unrecognized state entity the Republic of Somaliland, while the eastern part of the country, the Puntland region, declared autonomy in 1998.
In late August, pro-government Somalian militia SSC-Khatumo reportedly seized two key military bases belonging to the army of Somaliland near the city of Las Anod. Sool province and its capital of Las Anod is disputed territory between Somaliland and Puntland.