Carafaat Posted June 1, 2012 Sunday, 27 May 2012 19:13 The FM © Chairs the fateful encounterBy: Yumoha Pasha LONDON (Somalilandsun) – A shameful personnel identity controversy has engulfed the office of the country's representative in Britain. A handover ceremony officiated by the Foreign Minister Dr. Mohamed Abdilahi Omar turned ugly when the sitting representative Mr. Ahmed Omar Sangore refused to hand over to his replacement Mr. Ali Adam Awale. The rebuttal of both the foreign minister and purportedly incoming representative by Mr. Sangore baffled the motley of witnesses in attendance, who were further astounded by what seemed to have been scuffling between the country's senior diplomats in one of the world's major city. During a telephone interview with the Horn and its sister paper Geeska Afrika Mr. Sangore said that he is not aware of his replacement thus firmly in charge of the country's diplomatic affairs in the United Kingdom. He stressed on the fact that he was appointed by the president H.E Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo and will only handover the office if ever on the president's command, but not to any other person regardless of station in Somaliland's government. Below is the full verbatim excerpt of the interview Q. What are the reasons behind your refusal to hand over as the Somaliland representative to the UK? A. First of all it is worth mention that my post and duties are very important to Somaliland and unless proper handover procedures are followed I will not vacate my office, which I hold on behalf of the people. There are various diplomatic protocols that must be adhered to, in such situations and it seems as if these protocols are of no significance to us Somalilanders. During discussions pertinent to my appointment, I assured the president H.E Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo, that I shall strive to perform my duties with diligence until such a time, when he instructs me to relinquish the office of which I shall willingly adhere to. Our understanding was also that personal health reasons that make my effectiveness impossible will result in my requesting to be relieved of this onerous public office. To this date I am still the sitting Somaliland envoy in Great Britain, calmly and confidently performing my duties as directed by the president of the republic of Somaliland, only on whose authority can prevalent status change. Q. Aren't you aware of a presidential decree that relieved you of you duties and named a replacement? A. The only information I have is from various media channels, that informed that new ambassadors have been appointed and some other serving ones like me relieved of duties. Having not received official communication from my boss the president, I said to myself "Ahmed maybe this is usual media propaganda but better ascertain" since then I have ensured that my direct telephone link to the president is clear as well as continuously been checking my email for official information as dictated by protocol and my understanding with the president. To this date almost three weeks later, I have not received any official communication pursuant to my dismissal nor directive to handover this onerous office I hold on behalf of the government and people of Somaliland. Therefore, to me, my official understanding and actions it is duties as usual. Thus my surprise 2 days ago when I was asked to hand over duties on such and such a day to my replacement Mr. Ali Adam Awale, and for all the reasons I gave you, I subsequently refused. Q. Have you consulted your boss, the president about your purported dismissal? A. (Laughter) that is absurd, it is deeming of me and the president, who appointed if I ever asked him, Your Excellency have you dismissed me? Q. Don't you consult the president regular as part of your duties, considering that a controversy surrounds the holder of the country's diplomatic mantle in the UK, a controversy that if prolonged my seriously injure our diplomatic and international relations as well as put the country into shame? A. While the appointment and firing of senior public officials is the prerogative of the president, to my knowledge I am still the country's senior diplomat in the UK, until such a time as protocols are observed and my boss commands me otherwise. Q. How do you perceive Dr Mohamed A Omar's performance as minister of foreign affairs? A. Though Mohamed is striving hard to perfect our international relations; most of his actions are impulsive due to lack of clear planning. He needs to strategize and prioritize his pursuits while implementing his mandate. As pertains to the handover fiasco, the foreign minister told me "I have blundered" of which I told him that I cannot correct his mistakes nor encroach on his ministerial duties of whose appointment he owes to president Silanyo. Thus he correct his mistakes while I take care of my ambassadorial duties, that were similarly bestowed on me by president Silanyo, of which the president alone and none else , can command me to hand over. Horn. Thank you ambassador Sangore Sangore. You are welcome Hornnewspaper End of verbatim excerpt The minster's failure to affect the handover in London and subsequent fracas that ensued is a major blunder that can only be described by a Somali proverb that says "Wejiga wa basabort" (Your esteem is in your behavior) To this effect, the London fiasco perpetrated by senior diplomats under the supervision of the foreign minister who a few hours earlier had been hosted by British parliamentarians in their honourable and august house at Westminster. The invitation to Westminster of which the minister broke protocol by towing an unaccredited diplomat was not due to the personal esteem the Briton lawmakers hold for him but for Somaliland. This is a sorry affair that can only be solved by the president himself, once he puts a leash on the activities of the hard working foreign minister and most important make an official statement as per who is the country's envoy in Britain. On the other, the London envoy fiasco is a result of presidential decrees being released by the presidential spokesperson in the form of email's to media houses. President Silanyo must and should personally announce his own presidential decrees, since the decrees are presidential and he is the president, the legally elected president with an overwhelming mandate of Somalilanders. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carafaat Posted June 1, 2012 Reminds me of Djibouti: 1/3 of the diplomatic staff is related to the President, 1/3 to the PM and 1/3 is related to the wive of the President. Or Somalia where 1/2 of all staff was related to either the President and other half to the PM(not even 4.5 proof). Somalidii macaa arimihii dibida wexe ka dhigeen family issue's. so sad walee. P.S. Adeer Xaaji Xunjuf, this article is not meant to disgrace excusively Somaliland but all Somali's political leader for their narrow mindedness, that even in Foreign Affairs we cant seem to wage our common interest above our personal interest. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
