Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2022 to Question 139505, what steps she is taking to convene discussions between Somaliland, the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and neighbours in the region on the recognition of Somaliland as an independent state; and what recent assessment she has made of the barriers that remain to the UK granting Somaliland diplomatic recognition.

The UK Government's position on recognition has not changed, and is consistent with the entire international community, which does not recognise Somaliland's unilateral declaration of independence. As stated in the answer of PQ 139505, it is for Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to come to any agreement about their future relationship. Any new arrangements would need to be recognised by the African Union and neighbours in the region. The UK continues to encourage dialogue between Mogadishu and Hargeisa on this issue.