Djibouti to replace Turkey Mediation role in Somalia-Somaliland Dialogue

[Deeq A.]

HARGEISA–Somalia’s President, HE Mohamed Abdilahi Farmajo & Somaliland’s new president, HE Musa Bihi Abdi have agreed to resume the stalled talks where both Heads of States are due to meet in Djibouti for the first face to face meeting. The two leaders have reached a common understanding that they would be in attendance the first meeting which is due to take place in March 2018. The president of Somaliland has initiated the concept that Turkey should not be the only country to have the mediation role as previous meeting held in Turkey did not bear fruit.

According to confirmed reports from sources said that Somali president has dragged his feet to accept the notion that other countries should be included in the talks but did so finally and Djibouti’s role will be a mediation role. Somaliland populace and its politicians believe that Turkey has not stood a neutral position concerning Somalia and Somaliland talks and further think that Turkey has hidden agenda of lobbying for the unity of greater Somalia which is dead and buried. The President of Djibouti hosted a meeting between former Somaliland president Silanyo and former Somalia president Hasan Sheikh in talks. Mr. Ismail Omar reiterates that the future of Somalia lies in the hands of its citizens.The Somalia unity government collapsed after the military junta subjected brutal ethnic cleansing to northern citizens ( Somaliland) where thousands of people killed without clear motive. Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 but Somalia federal govt says it is a secession. Many Somaliland politicians prefer the suspension of the talks and call on giving priority on domestic affairs rather wasting time on unfruitful talks.