afrol News / Awdal News Network, 11 October - In its first reaction to the election of Puntland's leader as Somalia's new President, Somaliland authorities today issued a strong warning that it would go to war if the newly-formed government of Somalia violated its territorial integrity or tried to put Somaliland's sovereignty into a dispute.

The warning came in a decision issued by the cabinet of the self-declared republic of Somaliland today after an emergency meeting chaired by the country's President Dahir Riyale Kahin.

The decision read by Information Minister Abdillahi Mohammed Dualeh, said "Somaliland government and its people will consider such action as a violation and will not hesitate to go to war to defend their country."

It said Somaliland had declared to the IGAD frontline countries and to the AU, UN, EU, USA and the international community that the Nairobi conference was meant to establish a government for Somalia - former Southern Somalia - where civil strife and lawlessness prevailed.

- We wish to inform IGAD, AU, UN, EU, USA and the international community that they have a responsibility to prevent any violation against Somaliland’s borders and stability and that such countries and the international community will be accountable for the consequences of any such violation, the Somaliland cabinet today said.

The Hargeisa cabinet further reiterated Somaliland's firm position on its sovereignty and territorial integrity, describing it as "non-negotiable and based on the constitution of Somaliland that has been approved with a 97 percent yes vote in a national referendum."

The Somaliland cabinet also asked the Attorney General to file a case of national treason against Somaliland citizens who took part in the Nairobi talks.

- We urge the IGAD frontline countries, the AU, UN, EU, USA and the International Community to act fast to come up with a solution to prevent a conflict between Somalia and Somaliland, the cabinet said, warning that any negligence of the problem will lead to instability in the whole region.

By Awdalnews Network staff reporter

© afrol News / Awdal News Network

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