Somaliland Complains about Chinese Companies Fishing Offshore

Defense One posted on 22 March 2019 a statement titled "To Protect Africa's Oceans, Stand Up to China" by Yasin Hagi Mohamoud, foreign minister of Somaliland.

Somaliland declared unilateral independence from Somalia in 1991 and, therefore, denies the right of Somalia to make decisions concerning territory that it claims. Somalia's recent decision to grant licenses to Chinese companies to fish in territorial waters claimed by Somaliland is a case in point. Somaliland Foreign Minister Yasin Hagi Mohamoud argues that China is not the only country with predatory fishing fleets, but its boats are the ones that have been invited into Somaliland's waters. Absent an agreement with Somaliland's Ministry of Fisheries in adherence with Somaliland law, he argues that Chinese fishermen would be imprudent to venture into Somaliland's territorial waters.