Mogadishu (HOL) — Dahabshiil, the leading Somali remittance company, owned in Somaliland, has removed all references to 'Somaliland' from its platforms in compliance with a directive from the Somali government.
Earlier, Somalia's Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) issued a directive to airlines like Fly Dubai and Ethiopian Airlines, instructing them to list Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital, as part of Somalia. Ethiopian Airlines initially resisted by using only airport codes but eventually complied to avoid suspension of its operations in Somalia. The directive is part of Somalia's effort to reinforce its territorial claims over Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 but is not internationally recognized.
Somalia's recent push to control how international companies reference Somaliland highlights its determination to challenge any move that implicitly recognizes Somaliland as a separate entity.
Dahabshiil is a global company operating in more than 120 countries.
"We're international, and therefore, will operate under international rules" - the company said in a statement.
Dahabshiil Branch in Hargeisa.
Horus