As Composition of the Somaliland team devoid of opposition politicians raises eyebrows.
By: Yusuf M Hasan
Somalilandsun- Reconciliation talks with the Khatumo state secessionists are set to ensue next week.
According to sources the negotiating team appointed by Somaliland president Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo is expected to depart for the Ethiopian hosted reconciliation talks early next week.
Devoid of an official confirmation from the state, known members of the Somaliland team include chairman of ruling Kulmiye party Muse Behi Abdi and the ministers of foreign affairs, Health, Presidency and information namely Dr Saad Ali Shire, Dr Suleiman Isse Ahmed ‘Haglatosie, Mahmud Abdi Hashi and Abdilahi Sahardid respectively
The talks shall be hosted and hosted by the Ethiopian Government in Addis Ababa with the intent of facilitating a peaceful reconciliation between the Somaliland administration and the secessionists who since 2012 have been fighting for a Khatumo state of Somalia presumably to be curved off parts of the Somaliland eastern regions of Sool and Sanaag.
The Khatumo negotiating team appointed by the secessionists president Prof Ali Khalif Galayd was revealed last Saturday by the Buhodle based speaker of parliament Mahmud Sheikh Omar Hasan.
Accordingly the Khatumo negotiating team composed of locally based politicians and Diaspora based intellectuals that is led by speaker Mahmud Sheikh is reportedly rearing to move to Addis Ababa for a face with Somaliland government counterparts.
The involvement of president Silanyo and the Khatumo chief Prof Galayd is expected after the two teams set for Addis Ababa complete negotiations, thence official stamp.
While the peaceful reconciliation and subsequent end to the Khatumo insurgence, the Achilles tendon to Somaliland sovereignty, has full support from the public, two issues are raising concerns on whether desired and sustainable agreements shall be reached.
The first issue that ensued immediately after conclusion of exploratory talks in Addis Ababa is in relation to the concession by Somaliland that protocols at the reconciliation meetings accord Khatumo full state status thence government to government face off.
The second and seemingly of more concern is the absence of opposition politicians in the Somaliland negotiating team an anomaly which in lieu of the imminent president elections might ensue with a change of guard at the presidency as well as failure to muster enough votes at the legislature.
These discernible anomalies saw a team of opposition Wadani party officials led by presidential candidate cum speaker of Somaliland parliament Abdirahman Irro meet in Addis Ababa with Khatumo chief Prof Galayd immediately the government announced arrangements for the talks.
All in all let the show begin and hopeful the Khatumo insurgence shall soon be a thing of the past
