Somaliland: Saudis Accept pre-1991 Somali Passport

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Somaliland: Saudis Accept pre-1991 Somali Passport

Thursday, 20 September 2012 18:26

Amb Rashid Garuuf says Saudis accept green passport & SL one L set for e-systemBy: Yusuf M Hasan

HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – Pressure on the Government of Saudi Arabia bears fruits.

Citizens travelling to the holy city of Mecca for Hajj (Pilgrimage) will use the pre-1999 Somalia passports issued before Somaliland reclaimed its sovereignty.

This revelation came via a statement issued by the Somaliland Representative in the USA Ambassador Rashid Garuuf.

The government of Saudi Arabia had recently announced that it recognizes only the new TFG Somalia passport dubbed "Abdilahi Yusuf" thus entry refusal for pilgrims using either the Somaliland or the pre-1999 Somalia passports.

The Saudi decision raised much clamor with some even at ministerial level suggesting a boycott of this year's Hajj in protest, while others urged caution and the use of the TFG one, a suggestion that heightened the clamor further.

According to Amb. Garuuf the Saudi about-turn came after the administration of President Silanyo undertook intense negotiations with Riyadh where the Saudis were informed of the impossibility of Somalilanders travelling with a TFG passport.

The Amb Garuuf statement from Washington read:

This is to inform on the political stance and decision of the Government of Somaliland as pertains to the use of the Somalia TFG passports and repercussions.

He also informed that the government of Saudi Arabia has accepted the pre-1999 Somalia passport as valid travel document for Somalilanders attending the hajj.

The entire position is as:

1. The administration of the president H.E Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo hereby informs prospective pilgrims to use the pre-1991 Somalia passport.

2. The use of the pre-1991 green passport is now valid

[Xaq]

Will the passport have the word Somalia on it?

[Somalia]

How it's a victory that they are using kacaan passports is beyond fathomable. This article is a joke though, how can they 'pressure' the Saudis hahahahahaha, cajiib. :D

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

All thanks goes to the Djiboutian Ambassador to saudi arabia an ethnic Somalilander.

 

Somalilanders always used the old Somali republic passport it shows that they use this document as a travel document.Not the new Somalia passport the distiction .clearly matters. And this solely means that Somaliland doesnt recognize any goverment post 1991 in Somalia that claims Somaliland.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^^ No problem with that its a new era even-though Somalilanders were at war with those governments. But in 1991 with re independence of Somaliland, Somaliland goverments recject Somalias passport its not for use in Somaliland it rejects Somalia's constitution the part that claims Somalilands territory.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^^^Its the Former Somali govt these passports were distributed when Somaliland and Somalia were one country, these documents are only used for traveling to Arabia. But no TFG passport or a new Somalia passport is accepted in Somaliland.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Apophis;872032 wrote:

Break it down and simplify it: S/L will be using a passport issued by a Somali government. Am I wrong?`

A government that no longer exists

[Ibtisam]

People need to go Hajji, what does it matter- tattered old passports or Abdillahi Yusuf ones which I can buy at the sweet shop for $100.

[Somalia]

*Ibtisam;872051 wrote:

People need to go Hajji, what does it matter- tattered old passports or Abdillahi Yusuf ones which I can buy at the sweet shop for $100.

How can you buy them when they are illegal in the independent Republic of Somaliland?

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

the tft passport is the last nail on the coffin of the ill-fated uinion

 

the tft passport is the last nail on the coffin of the ill-fated uinion

 

 

The FTG passport is the last nail on the coffin of the ill-fated union with the South way back in 1960 – patience is the name of the game and the last thing we need to do is engage in unnecessary debate over this dead crop: By: Hassan Abdi Yousuf

 

 

 

The hot debate over FTG Passport depicts the shallowness of our understanding of immigration laws. Before engaging in this debate over whether Somalilanders holding the passport of the Somali FTG are in breach of our Laws and if they would be allowed to travel to/from our ports, we need to answer one fundamental question. That is; what other options do they have?

 

The vast majority of the Somaliland Diaspora holds foreign passports from every corn of this Global. This is not an issue of their choice, but as we are all aware, these men and women were forced out of their country as a result of the oppression and killing of the Barreh dictatorship. Secondly, the Somaliland citizens who are residing inside our country and need frequent travelling (local official, businessmen and other private citizens) also hold foreign passports of neighboring courtiers like Ethiopia sand Djibouti. Thirdly, Somaliland citizens who are permanently residing in other parts of the world (like the Gulf and Africa) but do not have other citizenships hold passports issued by some quasi Embassies of the now defunct Somali Republic. This is because the international community has yet to recognize our Passport and the FTG guys, for their own sinister reasons, assume we are part of them.

 

I have recently acquired FTG passportin Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, simply because the country of my residence (Saudi Arabia) has yet to recognize my Somaliland Passport. However, as far as I am concerned,the matter is a question of time and I have no doubt the day will come when the Somaliland Passport will be honored by over 100 nations on the Globe.

 

To sum it up, the nature of the passport one holds is a matter of convenience given the circumstances and should not be turned into political issue. Lastly, the argument that the green passport was shared with the South is ridiculous. The reason is simple:It isan illegal passport and since we are no more longer part of that regime, we do not share anything Somalia. It is also worth remembering thatit’s Somaliland who has departed the infamous Union with the South and accordingly, we are not entitled and also hate to acquire this passport but in the absence of recognized Somaliland passport, we need to travel on any document that we could put our hands on.

 

Finally, the Government of President Ahmed Mohammed Mahmoud Silanyo would love to issue to us Somaliland Republic passports recognized by all nations on Earth and generate revenue in the process, but up until now this has not materialized – needs patience.

 

In this connection, the Somaliland immigration officials have challenging taskat hand and they have to develop policies and procedure aiming at mitigating the National Security and Identity risks emanating from accepting or not accepting the FTG passport in our territories. They also should ensure to minimize the potential suffering our people and safe guard their interests; no matter what. Accordingly, Somaliland Immigration Official needs to ascertain that the citizens holding the FTG passports have lawful reasons to do so. Finally, the question of this ill-fated passport should not be allowed to tarnish our image as asovereign and independent nation (Walaw Kariha Al xaaqiduun).

 

Most importantly,I t should be remembered that the suffering of our people with regard to travelling is part and parcel of our struggle for international recognition and we should have the guts to live with the situation in the hope that, as usual, God will be on our side and the storm will clear up sooner rather than later. For instance, in the days of SNM struggle, a large number of citizens residing in the Arabian Gulf countries were denied renewal of their passports, while others were deplored from these countries at the request of the Siyad Dictatorship. However, these men did not blame the Movement officials for their plight, but they recognized and appreciated that their suffering is part of the ongoing struggle to attain freedom, independence and dignity.

 

In this connection, the following conditions should required of any citizen holding the FTG passport in our territories up until the Somaliland Passport has become a widely accepted travelling document throughout the World, which I recon is a short-lived episode.

 

1. Somaliland citizens traveling to countries that recognize the Somaliland passport (e.g. Djibouti and Ethiopia etc - and not holding visas & permits to other counties) should be acquired to hold Somaliland passports.

2. Under no circumstance should the FTG passport be issued in Somaliland territories.

3. Known Somaliland citizens (no matter what passport they hold) who are frequently traveling to and from Somalia should be scrutinized for security purposes. We should not be naïve in this regard and assume that these people are automatically innocent travelers.

4. Somaliland Immigration Officers should not endorse the FTG passportfor Entry & Exit purposes if the traveler is directly heading toor arriving from Somalia. In the case of Somalia citizens travelling to or coming from other parts of the world, we should endorse Entry & Exit on blank sheet – merely as evidence of traveling. Bottomline is, so long as they do not recognize our travelling documents we should not horror theirs.

5. The citizens of Somaliashould not hold passports stating Somaliland territories as their birth places. We should have clear policies as to the true identity of people holding this passport. Otherwise, our sovereignty and independence will be compromised.

6. Citizens of Republic of Somaliland who are lawfully traveling overseas on FTG passports (holding foreign in visas and residence permits) should be required to present National IDs in our ports. Otherwise, our national identity will be jeopardized.

[Mario B]

Somaliland chasing it's own tail again, but like most things it does...it always seem to make the impossible, possible!

 

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Official statement from the Somaliland government today the Ban of the new passport of Somalia in Somaliland if the security forces see selling these passports you risk to be put behind bars.

 

Xukuumadda Somaliland Oo Joojisay Baasaaboorkii Somaliya ee ay Bishan Gudaheeda Ogolaatay iin Xajka lagu tago

“Waxa golaha wasiirrada lagaga dooday hal caqabad oo na soo waajahday oo ahayd in baasaaboorka E-Passport ee Cusbaa lagu xidhay Xujaajteenii”

Hargeysa (Waaheen) – Xukuumadda Somaliland ayaa markii ugu horeysay si waadax ah u qiratay sababaha ku kalifay inay shacabka u fasaxdo isticmaalka Baasaaboorka cusub ee Somaliya, kaasi oo dawlada Sucuudigu ku xidhay Xujaajta Sanadkan ee dhanka Somaliland ka tagaya.

Xukuumadda Madaxwayne Axmed Maxamed Maxamuud (Siilaanyo) oo horaantii bishii Ougost meel-marisay isticmaalka Baasaaboorkii Cabdilaahi Yuusuf Somaliya u sameeyay, ayaa sheegtay inay duruufi ku khasabtay inay ansixiso in sanadkan baasaaboorkaasi lagu Xajo, balse dedaal ay sameeyeen shirkadaha diyaaradaha ee dadka Xujaajta ah qaadaa ay ku guulaysteen in dadku ku Xajaan baasaaboorkii hore ee Somaliya.

Wasiirka Wasaarada arimaha gudaha Maxamed Nuur Carraale (Duur) oo shalay hortagay Guddida arimaha gudaha ee Golaha Wakiilada, ayaa sheegay in xukuumaddu aanay mabda’ ahaan u ansixin isticmaalka baasaaboorka cusub ee Somaliya, balse ay jireen duruufo ku kalifay inay isku raacaan isticmaalkiisa “Waxa golaha wasiirrada lagaga dooday hal caqabad oo na soo waajahday oo ahayd in baasaaboorka E-Passport ee Cusbaa ee Cabdilaahi Yuusuf Sameeyay in lagu xidhay Xujaajteenii, waxayna noqotay qadiyad aanu aad uga hadalnay, waxaanuna goosanay in xukuumad ahaan aanaan baasaaboorkaasi soo dhawaynin mabda’ ahaan, waxaanuna goosanay inaanu baasaaboorkaasi ula dhaqano inuu yahay baasaaboor ajanabi ah oo aanu inagu socon oo aan Xajka lagu taggin”ayuu yidhi waxaanu intaa ku daray “Waxa loo hawlgalay baasaaboorkii hore ee Giriinka ahaa, kiibaana hirgalay oo waliba qolada diyaaraduhu ku mahadsan yihiin, kaas oo imika Xajka lagu tagayo, markaa culayskii wuu naga dhacay maadaama oo imika kii hore lagu tagayo”

Wasiir Duur, waxa uu sheegay maadaama oo baasaaboorkii hore ee Somaliya lagu xajayo, ka cusub ee ay ansixiyeen uu hadda dalka sharci daro ka yahay isla-markaana ciidamada amaanku amar buuxa ku qabbaan inay qabtaan cidii lagu arko “Basaaboorka tiraba saddex jeer ayaanu qabanay, laakiin mushkilada jirtaa waxa weeye dhuumaalaysi-baa jira, imikana ciidamada amaanku waxay amar ku qabbaan meel kasta oo lagu arko baasaaboorka Somaliya inay qabtaan, laakiin wixii waa Online (Internet-ka) oo Macluumaadkii halkan-baa laga dirayaa, qofkiina waa Koombuutarkaa war-wareegaya oo waa sidii Idaacadii HORYAAL oo kale, laakiin ciidamada amaanku waxay amar ku qabbaan inay qabtaan cidii samaynaysaba, golaha wasiirraduna waxbay iska waydiiyeen”ayuu yidhi.