By: Yusuf M Hasan
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – Ethiopia and Somaliland have officially reopened their common land based border crossing points.
This revelation was made by the Somaliland foreign minister Mohamed Behi Yuns in his Hargeisa offices where he also disclosed that those seeking travel for whatever purpose to the neighbouring country shall have to undergo finger printing at the Hargeisa based Ethiopian consulate.
“I hereby take this opportunity to announce that the Ethio-Somaliland border entries point are officially opened as usual and the only condition is the finger printing pre-requisite for obtaining a visa for Somalilanders wishing to travel to Ethiopia” said Behi Yonis
Though both Ethiopians and Somalilanders have been crisscrossing the border without official encumberances since Addis Ababa closed its land based entry and exit points with Somaliland some 60 days ago those travelling by Air or seeking medical attention have been traveling without any hindrances.
While urging citizens to adhere to the finger printing process which he termed a normal undertaking worldwide the foreign minister said that the arrangements confirmed by the Ethiopian Consulate in Hargeisa were as agreed in discussions with Addis Ababa authorities undertaken in conjunction with his interior colleague Mohamed Ali Waran’ade.
The Somaliland interior minister upon arrival at Egal airport on the 12th Aug from official duties in Nairobi and Addis Ababa informed that lengthily Security discussions have established new strictures for cross border movements within these countries as a prelude to negating the ease of terrorist movement from one destination o another.
The official reopening of the border with Ethiopia comes at a time the Border with Djibouti is on daily cat and mouse situation where authorities in one capital or the other announce closure or reopening.
