Somaliland president meets with senior US officials 20 Jan 2008 21:04:07 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - A high-level delegation from Somaliland, a breakaway Somali republic, has met with senior U.S. officials to "further common interests" in regional peace, security, economic development and democratic reform, the U.S. State Department said on Sunday. During an eight-day visit in Washington, the delegation led by Somaliland President Dahir Kahin Rayale met with State Department, Agency for International Development, Defense Department and National Security Council officials, among others, the State Department said. Somaliland, in the northwestern corner bordering Ethiopia, broke away from the rest of Somalia in 1991 and argues it should be given sovereignty since it has held democratic elections and achieved stability that has eluded most of the country. The State Department characterized the visit as "cordial and constructive." The United States does not recognize Somaliland and a State Department spokesman said on Thursday the visit did not signal a change in position. "We are not on the verge of recognizing Somaliland," he said. The delegation left on Saturday, the State Department said.

I'd definitely support him! He must ensure though that his government is all-inclusive, representing Somalis from all regions though. Not how it was with the ICU (even though my gut says he didn't want it that way). You can't expect to take over a country and only have your reer as the leaders. But yes, I'm pretty sure he'll be president one day.

I can't help but slightly admire your obsession for independance. After getting a message like that from the state department you still haven't given up hope, and see it as a positive sign and twisted the press release; it's almost like a brain washed cult of some sort. But yeah The only problem that the majority of Somalis from ALL over have is what you also believe That the U.S is very closely following the AU led process Don't think for one second the U.S gives a damn about Somalia, Puntland or Somaliland. They are in primaries right now and Somalia isnt' an issue in any of them and won't be for the presidential elections. Also, your leaders visit wasn't on any media reports or the state departments website.

Wow, if I were an outsider looking in, I'd be so confused on what the heck is going on. Just a few years ago the Somaliland leader was chased out of the town after a few hours with bullets and has never returned by a man that was part of his government. Then after 5 years of being barred from the town the man that had orchestrated the attack joins his side again and lets some of his representative’s back in.

and no security? thanks CHe! I'm sure there were some, but then again brave men don't need it! Thats why after the cowardly suicide bombing in baidoa, he was back taking the same road.

in the pics shown you saw secrete service you foolish haters stop with the hating lool. I was wondering how could they show such ridiculous pics. Who are they trying to fool? Their leader goes for a tour of Washington all by himself with no "state department guide"; there's no mention of it on any U.S media including the state department website. Instead they produce suspicious pics. Then I realized, they are using these bogus pics to send back home. Distribute them as propaganda for their cause and most importantly relieve a lot of frustration to show they are making progress towards their dream of independance. These pics are not intended for the Diaspora. You gotta do, what you gotta to do; I suppose.

I knew that would be the response. I just don't get why there wouldn't be pics of him getting off the plane, being welcomed by government officals, meeting diaspora community, talking to reporters, getting into the car, hotel....etc! What the heck are those pics? Are there somaliland photographers travelling with him capturing everything? You make bold statements like "Topic: Pres. Dahir Rayaale Officially welcomed by the State Department", so are we to take your word for it? One other thing, is he even in any of the pics? Is that his back with his hand out in one of them?

Give me a break! You think you're so smart with these pics. You're not fooling anyone.

As for voting out Cade,it is simple. You recruit someone popular with lots of cash who know horse trading. Exactly! That's the Puntland way, unlike other regions that elect the same person over and over again, Puntlanders know how to change leadership. Before I went to Puntland I heard from people abroad how much Abdullahi Yusuf was hated by Puntlanders how he was oppressing them and all this nonsense. I go there and see nothing but love for him, I mean love is an understatement. Similar with President Cade Muse, if things were in such dire circumstances they would have ousted him a long time ago. There's a saying in the media world "if it bleeds, it leads". So many so-called media outlets flood the Internet with death and destruction. Puntland is a huge, inhabited by many people. I saw Tanzanian's working there and people from all over the horn as well. How many countries in the world, especially in African don't have problems with crime similar to these ones? Somaliland had foreigners executed in their homes! These people complaining Peace Action were the same ones complaining about Abdullahi Yusuf and will be complaining after Cade Muse leaves office. A huge amount of Puntlands resources are going to the cause in the south. Might I add that for the people in the South, Somaliland, Asmara and even some Puntlander's different agenda's to work, Puntland must be destabilized and ruined. What I noticed when I was there is that many people lost everything in Xamar and had to rebuild from Scratch. They'll never allow anyone to destroy that.

Peace Action, seems Pres Cade Muse wants to take the road less traveled when dealing with Puntlands situation. The Gov't has the names of the kidnappers from the individuals they captured during the kidnapping and will go after them one by one. Don't mind people and their insults, it goes way beyond the president political decisions. I never understood why they never concentrated more one their own areas and why they are obsessed with Puntland. Regardless, I think things may get worse before they get better, but definitely this woke the criminals up and they paid a heavy price. It won't be the end of the Gov't going after them.

Ok Ok we get it already....Puntland BAD, Somaliland GOOD. "ALL" Lascaanod Government offices open NO pics of all of them! Berbera Elects New Mayor again no pics! Riyaale's arrival at Heathrow and given "usual protocol for visiting dignitaries" with the exception of NO Pics! Whatever makes you sleep good and night I guess. Keep going on anti- Puntland websites, the same sites that you laugh at and call clan sites, keeps quoting them about the made up turmoil in Puntland. Keep flooding threads with articles of guys living abroad high on khat, claiming this is happening and that is happening! Puntland is going after those responsible for the kidnappings and fighting crime happens all over the world. Just like when Somaliland had their issues with foreigners being executed in their homes. Hopefully. It is the innocent people that suffer a lot. What's that suppose to mean? typo? Freudian slip?

QUOTE] I hope, he uses this time to reflect on his actions, reconsider his position and repent to Allah. What action? I have been to Puntland recently and witnessed the absolute love people have for him there. Sure for many of the major reer's have issues with him, but believe me he's a hero among his people in Puntland. How’s that phrase go "one man's terrorist, is another man's freedom fighter" or something like that. ..Does he want to leave this aakhira and be remembered as the man who brought an enemy state into Somalia. Who helped kafirs kill innocent Muslims I HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME and it makes me laugh the most. Somalis from the Somaliland, Puntland and the South used Ethiopian weapons and training to attack Siad Barre and destroy their whole entire nation. These kaafirs help you destroy your nation and this resulted in everyone running to their tribal lands and causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. Making huge division and playing right into Ethiopian hands. They sure weren't "enemies and kaafirs" when you used them to help destroy your nation. The same people that are claiming they are our enemies now went to them for help. I know what the answer will be; "we didn't actually bring their troops to our soil". My point is, if they are such enemies you would have never used them back then! There are a lot of people that need to repent for what they did to Somalia and it started a long long time ago.

I am wondering why Addis Abeba and not Nairobi?? Wow I wonder??? Ummm hmmmm??? Do you even watch the news or just what's going on in tribal enclave? Do you have any idea what is going on in Kenya and every one is predicting it to get worse, people I know there are in virtual house arrest because an already dangerous city became even more so. So stop with the conspiracy theories. Abdullahi Yusuf is a lion, of course I know the Somali way is to hate whoever belongs to the other side? Of course people in Hargeysa are celebrating, I knew when I came onto the site today that a secessionist would be the first to post this. And specialy considering that Daahir Riyaale is currently in Addis Abeba himself too? Your leader is in Addis but you claim to be against what Ethiopians are doing in Xamar right? You don't protest against your leader visiting the same people you accuse of committing genocide? Hypocrites! When your leader Egal died, no one was laughing or gloating about it calling him a warlord or drunk? So show some class!

That's what I heard to and he refused to help authorities with information.

It's simple if you are going to make a post with the topic Somaliland Delegation Meets with the US Ambassador in Ethiopia or anything else involving your foreign relations..... PROVIDE A PIC!!! Just some advice for future post

dalka ku maamulo gacan bir ah sidii Ina Yey I'm pretty sure a good leader must know his limitations. Unlike years past a significant amount of puntland's resources (weapons, money, soldiers etc) are down in the south helping stabalize that area. Those that want to destroy Puntland are fully aware of this. That's why the courts wanted to launch a war here last year so quickly. I'm hearing that it was a weapons stash that exploded which was ment for the ONLF.

LOL@Somalipride & Duke...The mention of SOmaliland makes you guys all green. Really, do I use childish names like bugland or what not like many on this site? I'm just saying, something like "Somaliland Delegation Meets with the US Ambassador in Ethiopia" should include pics. Not what someone guy high I khat in North America, feels like writing.

I've notice many posting covering a wide variety of somaliland issues never involve pics. Don't they take media or a camera crew with them? I hope if it is true that Riyale is going to America that they provide pics.

P.S. Reer Sool can curve their own ministate. These other entities have little to offer anyway. Reer Sool are unfortunely land locked so these "other entities" have A LOT to offer them, and in return they have a lot to offer these entities, which is why it is hotly contested!!! Gediid bro - this article is about how Puntland treats reer Sool. It's full of flat out lies, Somalilands government holds no significant positions for reer Sool, that's why they're were riots and not celebrations! It's shocking that a grown man(i'm assuming he is an adult) would actually write something like this.

This is my favorite quote from the ridiculous artice Presidents could come only from the first class citizens of Puntland. Soolers do not qualify for that. Puntlands two last vice president were from Sool, second most powerful men, and for a short time the Pres was in 2003. Somaliland would never ever ever EVER allow someone from majority tribes of Sool or Sanaag to attain the position for Pres of Vice Pres Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?! Is the man delusional? How can he even right this garbage knowing Somalilands track record with reer Sool? Sometimes I am shock about what people write; you know they have not studied journalism or are in anyway neutral. Look at Somalilands Gov't what high positions do people Sool hold? This is an issue with the local population in Lascaanod, Habsaade and others! What happened to Riyaale the last time he ventured into that city is proof how much they want to be under their control? The riots afterwards is also proof!

Duke brother, slow down with so many positive articles from Mogadishu! AU soldiers...basketball games, embassies opening. You will destroy the dreams of those that want instability i.e. secessionists and criminals! But seriously, these pics must be shown to the world and those that think Mogadishu is in chaos. Don't get me wrong there are people who have never wanted a Federal government and have been fighting for almost 2 decades, but would all these people have time to come out and watch a basketball game if it was as bad as the media makes it out to be? Would a country send troops to a city supposedly racked by violence? The TFG must focus on winning the media war though!

It's shocking how a positive posting like this one can generate such a response from people. We truly do not what to see anyone succeed if they don't belong to "our" side. You can put something up about people's suffering and dying and it'll barely get a response. But oh no, show such amazing pictures as these ones and everyone that does not want to see Somalia form a government come out and start bashing it. These kinds of pics are by far the biggest fear of all Secessionists!! Excellent Pics!!!!

He went back this year 2007!!!! He was there for naming of Garaad, Somalis from all over Somalia and the world came but Somalilands president was banned; that was Summer 2006!!! And now all of a sudden the fired ex-Puntland minister who was responsible for the assassination attempt on your president comes crawling back and you accept him in Hargeysa? We have videos of the riots in Lascaanod and it's clear our resources are in the South, but we'll see during your elections if Riyaale campaigns in either city.

Are there ever any pictures to support articles like this one? How easy is it to take some pics of the hospitals opening and put them on a website? Also, everyone can say that this side or that controls cities in Sool. But I guarantee you that neither leader can travel to either Buhodle or Lascaanod. Just a short time ago President Cade Muse went into Lascaanod freely and we know what happened to Riyaale last time he tried!!!! But yeah, get some pics to support good news like this!!!

The old man is doing great and will fulfill our goals as long as he is on power A little reverse pyshcology I see!!! Posting an article but not agreeing with it....riiiiggghhht. President Cade Muse is looking like a genius right now. Instead of attacking Lascaanod like so many wanted him to, he is allowing the people on the ground there decide what direction they want. There were no celebrations when Puntland retreated, and only riots against the occupiers (they blocked the freaking roads and prevented them from entering). Somaliland wants someone to attack the city so innocent people die, which will result in a backlash against Puntland. Do you remember the people from abroad that was so against the whole drilling idea and all their websites that spoke against it last year? Where are they now? If anything Somaliland made Puntland's administration stronger and more united, there is no talk of changing the leadership or it's polices. Everyone has put their differences a side. It's hilarious that Somaliland welcomes a man in hargeysa that was directly responsible for an assassination attempt on their leader a few years ago. It’s a region run by a bunch of amateurs thinking they have politicians. Don’t think the Puntland’s admin is stressed in the least, this is exactly what they needed!!!!