Somaliland: “Government Investigating Alleged Security Threat to Foreigners” Dr Omar

0

Dr Mohamed A Omar Somaliland foreign minister Somaliland has not only been successful in maintaining its record as a bastion of peace and stability in a volatile region, but has also been a reliable partner to the international community in the prevention of spill-over from the instability in the Horn of Africa. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

By: Yusuf M Hasan

HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The government of Somaliland maintains the full security of all foreigners in the country.

This was informed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohamed Abdilahi Omar in a statement responding to Sunday’s UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s revised travel advice for Somaliland.

While negating the issue of imminent threats to Britons and other westerners in the country Dr Omar revealed that the country continues to be a bastion of peace and security for nationals and foreigners alike in a volatile region.

Touching on the grave concern that the government in Hargeisa perceives the travel ban, which is the first to include Somaliland, the foreign minister informed that the administration in Hargeisa is investigating the purported threats utilizing the services of the UK trained security forces.

The foreign minister further revealed that the government has full confidence in its security forces terror investigation and handling capabilities having that have assisted numerous countries avert terror related activities due to experience garnered through cooperation with the UK and other foreign governments on many security-related issues on a number of occasions.

Below are the verbatim excerpts of the statement:

Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Somaliland in response to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s revised travel advice for Somaliland

The Government of the Republic of Somaliland takes its responsibility to protect foreign nationals living and working in the country very seriously. International organizations, multinational businesses and other foreign entities have been operating securely in Somaliland for many years, thanks to the resources we have invested in our security institutions, and the willingness of the general public to cooperate with the Government in defeating security threats from terrorists. We do everything in our power to ensure that the Somaliland security forces are employed to the fullest extent in protecting the public, including foreign nationals living here.

The Somaliland government is investigating thoroughly the specific concerns underlying the change in the travel advice which the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office issued on 27 January. So far our efforts have failed to uncover any evidence to substantiate the information contained in the revised advice. We will continue to investigate until we are fully satisfied that the issue has been addressed. We also have an ongoing dialogue and collaboration with our international partners in this regard, and reiterate our appreciation of the support that Somaliland receives on security matters.

Somaliland has been cooperating with the UK and other foreign governments on many security-related issues for some time now. We have received support for the training of the security forces, as well as on the investigation of specific threats. Somaliland has not only been successful in maintaining its record as a bastion of peace and stability in a volatile region, but has also been a reliable partner to the international community in the prevention of spillover from the instability in the Horn of Africa. We will continue to work with domestic and international partners to ensure a satisfactory resolution to this matter.

Mohamed A Omar

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Republic of Somaliland