Hargeysa (SD) – The Somaliland government has rejected the announced new coalition of eight countries on the Red Sea coast.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Somaliland was opposed the meeting of foreign ministers of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden countries in Saudi Arabia.

The statement from Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Somaliland stands on its former position of not cooperating with the countries of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden until its key rights are denied.

“Somaliland is an independent country and does not allow any other country to represent its long coast,” the statement read.

In the statement, Somaliland boasted it had protected its 850 kilometer-long coastline from being used as a haven for piracy and by terrorist organizations.

Somalia’s Foreign Minister Awad Issa attended the red sea conference, representing Somaliland.