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Djibouti-Somalia: Stalemate in cigarette war 

The self-declared state of Somaliland imports 10,000 cases of cigarettes monthly. The trade has become embroiled in controversy, and Djibouti has closed the common border in protest.

The border closure between Djibouti and the self-declared independent state of Somaliland, northwestern Somalia, triggered by a trade dispute over cigarette suppliers, remains in place. Somaliland officials said the action taken by Djibouti earlier this month had not caused significant economic damage, as Somaliland's main trading partner was Ethiopia.

Sources in Somaliland told IRIN that as a result of the dispute, local businessmen want cigarette companies to supply directly rather than through the Djibouti-based Horn of Africa representative, Abdulrahman Bore. Bore is seen by Somalilanders to unfairly control the regional cigarette trade

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