Foreign Minister Speaks on Somaliland’s Achievement on Diplomatic Front

[Deeq A.]

Foreign minister Dr. Sa’ad Ali Shire said that Somaliland has made a major achievement in the country’s foreign policy and its diplomatic front.

The FM made the remarks during an interview he conducted with Geeska Afrika, a local Somali paper in Hargeisa, Somaliland capital yesterday. Dr. Sa’ad Ali Shire embarked on two week long trip to UK and Ethiopia where he met with African Union officials in the sidelines of the African Union Summit which has been recently wrapped in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa. Issues that the FM spoke during the lengthy interview, the minister spoke about the airspace management, the stalled resumption of Somaliland and Somalia dialogue and Somalia’s president Farmajo’s last attempt to secure that Mr. Abdisalan Hadliye, Somalia’s ex-FM would clinch AU’s top IGAD post.

Q: What are your major achievements that you have done to the foreign policy?

The FM has reiterated that he has made all his efforts to rebuild the ministry and establish functioning representative offices which have been fully furnished while many others have been nominated. The FM has asserted that once they meet with foreign dignitaries that the ministry presents writings on Somaliland’s history and its assertion for statehood. The minister has added that the history justifies Somaliland’s right to be recognized as an independent country which legally  right. The minister has stated that based on all leverages that he embarked that he spread Somaliland’s case to the world during his two years tenure as FM.

Q: What has impeded Somaliland to be internally recognized as it embraced multi party politics and held free and fair elections?

The minster responded that it has become a fact that the world is fully knowledge to Somaliland and further added that the world has become fully aware of the huge difference between Somaliland and Somalia. Somaliland is well known for tranquility which has maintained its law and order and has embraced democracy which is thriving well. The FM has declared that the recently free and fair presidential polls has elevated Somaliland’s status in the eyes of the globe. The minister remarked that 14 elections took place in the African continent and despite Somaliland which is unrecognized, the presidential election held in last year has become the only credible poll that took place in the continent. Dr. Sa’ad has asserted that Somaliland has done a miracle that the world has taken aback.

Q: What could you tell us about your visit to Addis Ababa which coincided with AU summit?

The FM said that it is true that Somaliland is part of the African Union since it is not internationally recognized. The minister went on to say that he met with dozens of ministers, ten ambassadors, foreign dignitaries and European Union officials. Dr. Sa’ad has said that all the officials that they have met has commended Somaliland’s democracy and holding free and fair presidential elections. He said that they have urged to consolidate our unity, observe our peace and democracy. Somaliland’s FM has said that the talks between Somalia and Somaliland will resume soon but said the date and the venue and those who are about to attend have not been decided as far as the dialogue is concerned.

Speaking on the claim that Somalia took over the control of airspace management, the FM said that the issue is still for discussion between Somalia and Somaliland. He also talked about Farmo’s bid to seek the top position of IGAD which he failed and the minister said that Somaliland can only be represented and held accountable to those they have elected. He was referring to the ex-Somalia FM in which Farmajo has lobbied to clinch IGAD top post.