By: Yusuf M Hasan
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – I am humbled by the reception and commiserations of my grief extended me by Somalilanders and their government”
This was stated by former Puntland president Abdirahman Farole during a luncheon hosted in his honour by the Somaliland vice president Abdirahman Abdilahi Sayli in Hargeisa.
After thanking the government and people of Somaliland for the warm and brotherly welcome accorded during his stay Mr. Farole revealed that his visit was a personal one related to the sad demise of his late wife Amina Abib.
Stating that his visit was not in any way connected to politics Mr. Farole said “Since my late wife was from Somaliland and considering circumstances leading to her death I came here to meet with her relatives as per traditional and religious obligations”
His late spouse who hailed from Gabile region of Somaliland died from gunshot wounds inflicted by her son Omar Farole at their residence in Garowe town in April 2015.
While mystery surrounds the events at the Farole residence in Garowe on that fateful day police investigations that followed arrest of Omar revealed that the killer shot was unintentional.
According to traditional Somali culture and Islamic tenets the death of one through the hands of another is either compensated by blood money (male is worth 100 heads of camel while a female is halved) or reattributed by similar act upon the perpetrator.
According to VP Sayli the people and Government of Somaliland who mourned with Abdirahman Farole on the demise of his wife are and shall do all possible to ensure that the loss is settled in an amicable manner.
The party in Hargeisa officiated by VP Sayli had various dignitaries in attendance among them Government ministers, ruling Kulmiye party functionaries, legislators and ordinary citizens.
Though the presidency of Farole saw his troops engaged in minor but armed incursions into eastern parts of Somaliland, citizens are honoured by this visit from the ex- leader of Puntland an administrative region of Somalia whom they deem as a shrewd and pragmatic politician and leader respdectively as opposed to his successor Abdiweli Gas.
Abdirahman Farole Served as the Puntland region’s president from In January 2009, after he defeated nine other candidates in elections, including incumbent President Muse, to become the fourth President of Puntland
In 2014 elections President Abdirahman Farole obtained the vote of 32 MPs, compared with the 33 of his rival, Abdiweli Ali Gas thus relinquishing the Garowe based regional presidency
Watch the Luncheon hosted by the Somaliland government in honour of Farole
