By: Yusuf M Hasan
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The Somaliland leadership will join other world leaders at the state burial of late Ethiopian Prime minister
The president H.E Ahmed Mahmoud Silanyo is currently in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa thus represents the country at the burial of the country’s late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
President Silanyo who is accompanied by the 1st lady M/s Amina Mohamed Jirde ‘Weris’, Foreign minister Dr Mohamed Abdilahi Omar and Presidency Minister Hirsi Ali Hassan flew out of the country in a chartered Cessna plane from the Hargeisa based Egal International Airport this morning.
In the course of stay in Addis Ababa, president Silanyo will personally convey Somaliland’s condolences to the Ethiopian government and people especially after affixing his signature to the official book of condolences.
During the state burial on 2nd September 2012 the president will pay Somalilanders tribute to the Meles Zenawi whom the nation in unanimously termed as a great and visionary Horn of Africa leader.
Anticipations are high that President Silanyo will hold sideline talks with the many world leaders especially from Africa who are already in Ethiopia for the burial as pertains the country’s intensified quest for recognition.
Somaliland and Ethiopia enjoy good bi-lateral relations especially during the tenure of the deceased Zenawi, with the neighbouring having been the first to establish a diplomatic mission manned by a full ambassador in the capital Hargeisa.
While conveying condolences to the Ethiopian government and people immediately the death of late PM Meles Zenawi was announced, president Silanyo informed that Death has robbed the Horn of Africa a great and visionary leader.
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The president also noted on the relationship between the two countries saying
Though the relationship between Somaliland and Ethiopia started during the liberation struggle in the 1980’s, it is during the tenure of Meles Zenawi as prime minister that the prevailing partnership in Security, Commerce and development become solid of which confidence abounds as pertains to sustainability.
The late Meles Zenawi 57, who is attributed with getting his country out of the doldrums of poverty, took power as the leader of rebels that ousted communist leader Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991.
He is has been replaced in an acting capacity by Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegne, who is also Ethiopia’s foreign minister until 2015 when elections are slated for.
