Diplomatic row over Somaliland

Somalia has issued a formal protest after Kenya referred to the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland as a country. Somaliland declared its independence in 1991 but is not recognised by the international community, which considers it an autonomous region of Somalia. A report on the News24 site notes that Kenya last week angered its war-torn neighbour last week after saying a meeting with Somaliland officials covered 'issues of mutual interest to both countries'. Somalia's Foreign Ministry said it summoned Kenya's ambassador and presented him a note of protest. 'We consider this tweet an affront to Somalia's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity as well as harmful to the relationship between Somalia and Kenya,' the Ministry said in a statement. Formerly a British protectorate, Somaliland merged with former Italian Somaliland in 1960 to create Somalia.