By: Yusuf M Hasan
Somalilandsun- Somaliland officially opened a Somaliland Representative Office in the United States in Washington last week (May 22). Foreign Minister Dr. Saad Ali Shire said the office would serve as liaison with the Somaliland Diaspora and represent Somaliland’s interests in the U.S. Dr. Shire said he was visiting the United States “to update the U.S. Government and United Nations on the progress Somaliland has made, and the security, stability and democracy it enjoys.” He said having a permanent office representing Somaliland would ensure it had a sustained and recognizable voice in Washington. During his visit, Dr. Shire met officials from the Department of State, Department of Defense, U.S. AID as well as Members of Congress and NGO representatives. He also visited New York and met with investors and United Nations officials.
This development in the USA comes in the heels of a recent handover of a new building donated to the Somaliland diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa by the federal government Ethiopia.
Though Ethiopia and Somaliland maintain lengthily relations the donation of the new one floor embassy building comes a short while after it was announced that Ethiopia owns 19% of the $422m DP World concession to managed and develop the Berbera port
With the public caught off guard by news of Ethiopia’s 19% stake coupled with uninformed debate courtesy of scanty details the situation was accorded a semblance of facts by the Somaliland Foreign minister through related justification for the award to the neighbouring country.
In the meantime the citizenry is still under grip of the unknown despite a balanced view on the 30 years DP World contract due to the scanty details availed even after the Emirati firm assumed contractual obligations
In Hargeisa and other major cities of the country meassge that FM Dr Saad Ali Shire has departed the US destined for home tweeted by @somalilandusa has elecitied much interest from a citizenry anticipating more details as pertains roundtable with Atlantic council’s Africa Centre,
