Somaliland: President Holds Talks with French visiting delegation

[Deeq A.]

Somaliland President H.E.  Musa Bihi Abdi  held official talks with  French delegation led by Ambassador Mr. Antoine Sivan, at the Presidential Palace in Hargeisa on Thursday.

First of all, President Bihi has appealed to the French ambassador to Somalia to direct aid from the French Development Agency (AFD) thorough the Somaliland Development Fund (SDF).

Hon. Bihi has praised the official visit embarked by the French delegation headed by ambassador Antoine to Somaliland. He briefed the delegates on the history of the country, its progress towards peace state building and the flourishing of democracy in Somaliland.

The Head of State has not hesitated to clarify Somaliland’s stance of being an independent state that has nothing to do with Somalia. Hon. Musa Bihi has appealed to the French govt to support Somaliland’s quest of getting an int’l recognition from the world.

Somaliland President has briefed the visiting French delegation on his National plan which aims to create jobs for the youth, and the improvement of social services. The President has raised with the delegation the drought which is hitting hard western regions in the country and urged to respond to the humanitarian catastrophe. He said that the country will hold the parliament and local council elections in early 2019. Hon. Musa has said that the stalled Somalia-Somaliland talks to resume soon but added that Somaliland prefers the talks to be hosted by a neutral country.

Members of French Delegation:-

1. French ambassador to Somalia/Somaliland, Mr. Antoine Sivan

 

 2.  Emmanuel Dagon

3.      Colonel Ducharme,

4.      Abdehnor Brahmi

5.      Jean Pierre Tutin