HARGEISA (SD) – The Spokesperson for the Somaliland Presidency, Hussein Adan Egeh (Deyr), has strongly condemned the controversy surrounding a map published by the BBC this week, which showed Somaliland as not part of Somalia.

He said the Somali government had reacted sensitively and was embarrassed by the issue.

In a detailed Twitter thread, the spokesperson made several key points, including that the BBC stands among the world’s most reputable media institutions. However, the spokesperson also noted that other international outlets, such as The New York Times and The Guardian, consistently distinguish between Somaliland and Somalia in their reporting.

The spokesperson mocked the Somali government’s authority, stating it doesn’t even fully control the capital, Mogadishu, let alone other regions.

Deyr provided historical context, explaining that Somaliland wasn’t a breakaway region but rather a sovereign state recognized in 1960 before voluntarily uniting with Somalia – a union he declared definitively ended in 1991.

The spokesperson highlighted Somaliland’s accomplishments in State-building, Peace consolidation, and Democratic governance development.

Deyr dismissed Somalia as “a country in name only,” dependent on international community support and foreign peacekeeping forces.

The spokesperson stressed that Somaliland’s existence doesn’t depend on media reports but rather on the will of its people, who have built their nation.

He noted the international media’s increasing acknowledgment of Somaliland’s developmental strides.

Deyr advised Somalia to redirect its energy from criticism to rebuilding its fractured state.

The controversial map, published by the BBC and most US media outlets, separates Somaliland and Somalia into two countries. The media reported that the map was taken from the White House, which excludes Somaliland from the areas where the US has imposed travel restrictions. The issue has sparked a strong reaction on social media, with supporters of Somali unity strongly opposing it.