afrol News / Awdal News Network, 3 April - President Dahir Riyale Kahin of unrecognised Somaliland on Saturday travelled to Yemen at the invitation of Yemeni authorities. 'Awdalnews Network' learned from informed sources that the President was to hold talks with Yemeni officials during a three-day visit. He is expected to return on Tuesday.

Diplomatic ties between non-recognised Somaliland and its northern neighbour Yemen have been complicated. Somaliland arrested 84 fishermen from nearby Yemen in February accusing them of fishing illegally in its waters. Angered by the seizure of its citizens, Yemeni authorities accused Somaliland of piracy.

The authorities in Somaliland, however, described the seizures of the fishermen and their nine boats on 15 February, as part of a drive to rid Somaliland's waters of illegal fishing. The incident prompted President Kahin to write a letter of complaint to his Yemeni counterpart.

Yemen had since then invited General Ade Muse, the leader of the autonomous Somali region of Puntland, to Yemen and had signed fishing agreements with him. Puntland, which favours Somali unity, is the main rival of Somaliland, which unilaterally broke away from Somalia in 1991 and has since established a peaceful and democratic state.

This will be the first time that a Somaliland leader visits Yemen or any Arab country. Somaliland has met special resistance from Arab nations in its quest for international recognition. President Kahin prior to the ongoing visit never had received an invitation from an Arab nation.

By staff writers

© afrol News / Awdal News Network

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