Written question asked by Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Warsi (Conservative) on Thursday, 30 January 2014.

Somaliland and Somalia

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the dispute between Somaliland and Puntland over the Sanaag and Sool areas. [HL4828]

Answer: Somaliland and Puntland have a land border dispute over their shared territorial boundaries, which has led to tensions in the Sanag and Sool regions. In particular there are tensions between the Somaliland Administration and those clans in Sanag and Sool who have affiliated themselves with Puntland, and those who wish to set up a separate federal state aligned with the Federal Government of Somalia. These tensions occasionally spill over into sporadic outbreaks of unrest. The continuing insecurity makes it harder to deliver development assistance. We continue to raise our concerns about reports on the situation in Sanaag and Sool with both Somaliland and Puntland administrations. We urge dialogue and restraint on all sides.

Secondary information