As foreign minister Dr Saad Ali Shire leading government delegation makes maiden visit as Somaliland foreign policy chief
Somalilandsun – The Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Somaliland Dr. Saad Ali Shire visited the neighbouring Djibouti and had important meetings including courtesy call to the President of Djibouti Hon. Ismail Omer Gelleh as well as beneficial discussions in six days trip there in Djibouti.
The minister’s first trip to Djibouti since his appointment intended to strengthen bilateral relations with Djibouti in the areas of security, political, cultural and social aspects and at the same time witness some institutional reform made to the Liaison Office in Djibouti to alleviate the standard and promote representational performances of the mission in Djibouti led by Ambassador Mohamed Warsame Ali.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Somaliland, Dr. Saad Ali Shire, accompanied with Ambassador of Somaliland to Djibouti, Amb. Mohamed Warsame Ali, Minister of Industry of Somaliland, Mr. Shuiab Mohamed Muse, Ambassador of Djibouti to Somaliland, Amb. Hussein Omer Kawaaliye had courtesy call meeting with Djibouti President, Hon. Ismail Omer Gelleh at Djibouti Presidency on 26th Nov. Minister Shire firstly thanked the President and generally Djibouti government for the friendly relations, the joint cooperation and for the all the assistances provided towards improving Somaliland Liaison Office in Djibouti. The Minister emphasized strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation on security, commerce, culture, sports and social as well. During the meeting, Amb. Mohamed Warsame Ali added a word of request to the President of Djibouti to lobby for Somaliland in the regional integration projects in the Horn of Africa led by the President of Djibouti and Ethiopia Prime Minister. It is noteworthy to mention the length of time Hon. President Ismail Omer Gelleh allocated for the meeting which was more beyond the diplomatic norms and more friendly.
“We returned this afternoon from short trip to Djibouti government which regarded introduction and friendship. During our stay, we were warmly greeted. We met the president, we met number of ministers, minister of finance, minister of foreign affairs, minister of labor, minister of justice, minister of budget and other ministers. We had outstanding meetings with them. Djibouti is a country we are neighbours and friends and share a lot, history and population and so we are concerned in strengthening relations” said the Minister.
“We went to the president for courtesy call. He welcomed us and received us well. We thanked the president for the welcome, the bilateral relation of the two countries and the assistance as a government they provided for Somaliland Liaison Office in Djibouti. We discussed strengthening the bilateral relations and the multipurpose cooperation we share in the areas of security, culture, economy, society and sports and generally relations of the two countries. I submitted the president greetings from the President of Somaliland, H.E. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud (Silanyo),” said the Minister.
When the Minister was asked whether he raised the dialogue between Somaliland and Somalia in his meeting with Djibouti president, he said, “We requested the president to arbitrate in the dialogue going between Somaliland and Somalia. The dialogue is not only important for Somaliland and Somalia but also useful for the region wholly, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya … and therefore the success of the dialogue between Somaliland and Somalia has wider significance.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Somaliland, Dr. Sa’ad Ali Shire had meeting with the same titled MOFA Minister of Djibouti, Mr. Mohamud Ali Yusuf who received him warmly at his office. The two ministers discussed the friendly relations between the two countries, strengthening ties and renewing previously signed bilateral agreement on the security cooperation.
Minister Shire also met Minister of Finance of the Republic of Djibouti, Mr. Ilyas Mouse Dawale who is actually a pioneer and visionary intellectual to foresee the tomorrow’s strategic economic prospects in the integration in the Horn of Africa. The two ministers discussed and encouraged improving the bilateral cooperation within the finance sectors while at the same time Minister of Industry of Somaliland, Mr. Shuiab Mohamed Muse had specially meeting with the Director General of Industry which is part of the Ministry of Finance of Djibouti.
Generally, Minister Shire was warmly received and welcome to the Republic of Djibouti and this included cordial lunch offered to the Minister accompanied with Somaliland Ambassador to Djibouti; Somaliland Minister of Industry and MOFA Political Department Director; by a group of important ministers led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, Mr. Mohamud Ali Yusuf included Minister of Labor & Administrative Reform, Mr. Abdi Hussein Ahmed, Minister of Justice, Mr. Ali Farah Assowe, Minister of Culture and Religious Affairs, Mr. Aden Hassan Aden, Minister of Budget, Bode Mohamed Roble, Ex-MP Antuwan Micheal Francuais Bartelini and other key figures.
In the same way with Ethiopia, Somaliland shares a lot with Djibouti in terms of the population and socioeconomic, cultural, historical and political contexts, and the more these bilateral relations on security and the multipurpose cooperation strengthen, the more they are both working to meet the interests of the brotherly nations.
Finally what currently are noteworthy the two ambassadors Mohamed Warsame Ali and Hussein Omer Kawaaliye leading the missions that Somaliland and Djibouti respectively exchanged who are both committed and capable individuals to serve their nations and the key role they are playing in make the relations stronger.
Minister’s trip to Djibouti meetings took place between 25-27th Nov, 2015.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation
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