Somaliland delegation arrives for talks

A delegation from the self-declared independent state of Somaliland, northwestern Somalia, is in Djibouti for talks aimed at improving bilateral relations, a Djibouti official confirmed to IRIN on Thursday. The two-man delegation consists of Foreign Minister Abdihamid Garad Jama and Education Minister Ahmad Yusuf Du'ale. The delegation was in Djibouti "on their own initiative, and not at the invitation of the Djibouti government", said the official. According to him, the delegation "is here to make amends, and to request the reopening of the Djibouti-Somaliland border", which was closed by Djibouti in April. The spokesman of the Somaliland presidency confirmed the presence of the delegation in Djibouti, but declined to comment on the purpose of the visit, 'Jamhuriya', a local Somaliland daily, reported on Thursday. The Somaliland president, Muhammad Ibrahim Egal, in an interview with the BBC in July, called for improved relations with Djibouti. Egal said at time that Somaliland was ready to open a new chapter in its relations with Djibouti. Bilateral relations soured following Djibouti's hosting of the Somali peace talks last year, which led to the establishment of the Transitional National Government. The Somaliland administration boycotted the talks and accused Djibouti of interfering in Somalia's internal affairs.