By; Abdalle Ahmed
Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed met in Dubai with Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo of Somaliland in the first formal and direct talks since Somaliland broke away in 1991.
Mogadishu (RBC) After first face-to-face formal discussions between Somalia interim president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and the leader of Somaliland Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo in Dubai this week, Somalia government says the talks will continue after August elections, RBC Radio reports on Saturday.
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Mostly the discussions in Dubai were open and there was few points agreement signed there which focused to boost cooperation between the different factions between both sides.” senior presidential advisory told RBC Radio on Saturday.
“The ‘Dubai Charter’ which was signed in Dubai by president Sharif and Ahmed Silanyo stated the need for the continuation of the process but after August elections” he added.
The agreement signed by the two men this week in Dubai, facilitated by UAE government follows talks in London and Istanbul earlier this year and reinforces “international efforts for reconciliation among all Somali parties.
But officials of Somalia transitional federal government are confident that the new leaders of the country will be able to reach consensus with the northern separatist leaders known as Somaliland.
“Because the new government will take the legitimacy of the reconciliation process and then a new power sharing based on north and south is possible.” Somali MP Ali Abdullahi told RBC Radio.
Meanwhile the Puntland president, a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Somalia has lessened the importance of the talks describing as fruitless meeting in Dubai.
