MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Authorities in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland say they have received $700,000 in drought relief aid from Somalia’s federal government, despite longstanding political tensions between the two sides.
The funds, aimed at supporting relief efforts in the drought-stricken Awdal region in western Somaliland, were confirmed by the region’s drought commission on Tuesday.
Speaking to state media, a spokesperson for the commission said the money had been deposited into government accounts and would be directed towards assisting communities severely affected by the prolonged dry conditions.
“When droughts occur, it has often been customary for Somaliland and Somalia to assist each other, regardless of political differences,” the official noted.
The aid follows an order issued several weeks ago by Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, instructing the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) to provide urgent support to drought-hit areas in Awdal. However, like other federal agencies, SoDMA does not operate within Somaliland territory, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 – a status not internationally recognised.
Despite the lack of formal ties, rare instances of cooperation over humanitarian crises have occasionally bridged the political divide.
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