By: Yusuf M Hasan
DUBAI (Somalilandsun) – Rumours Purporting secret talks between the presidents of Somaliland and Somalia in the Emirates are without foundation.
According to the Somaliland foreign minister Dr Mohamed Abdilahi Omar, his boss H.E Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo has neither held nor plans to hold talks with his Somalia counterpart Mr Hasan Sheikh Mahmud.
The foreign minister who was reacting to some media reports purporting that president Silanyo who is currently on an official visit to the UAE has met or is to meet the Somalia president who is said to be travelling to the Emirates from Doha Qatar where he is participating in an Arab league conference.
Informing that that president Silanyo and his entourage were on an official working visit to the Emirates Dr Omar said, “We are not in the UAE for Talks with Somalia Authorities but visiting here on official invitation from the government for discussions on bi-lateral relations between our two countries”
The minister further reemphases the impossibility of such a meeting informing that president Silanyo and his entire delegation are set to leave the UAE on Wednesday when the Somalia president will still be in Doha.
While revealing that the republic of Somaliland is ready for resumption of face to face talks with the Mogadishu government the May 7th London conference on Somalia boycott announced by president Silanyo still stands.
The boycott of the 7th May London conference which has continued to receive wide support from the citizenry was announced upon return from an official trip to Turkey by President Silanyo who said the meeting was solely on issues pertaining to Somalia thus Somaliland has nothing to offer
The president who is expected back on Wednesday and is accompanied by the first lady Ms Amina Mohamed Jirdeh “Amina Weris”, government officials, legislators and political leaders has so far conducted fruitful talks with various leaders in the UAE
Others in the entourage include Minister of foreign Affairs Dr Mohamed Abdilahi Omar, Minister of finance Mr Abdiaziz Mohamed Samale, Minister at the Presidency Mr Hirsi Ali Haji Hasan, Agriculture minister Prof Farah Elmi Gedole, Deputy Health minister Lady Nimo Hussein Qawdan, Deputy Information minister Mr Abdilahi Mohamed Dahir ‘Ukuse’, Deputy Speaker of parliament MP Bashe Mohamed Farah, Chairman of the Kulmiye party Mr Muse Bihi and Presidential spokesperson Mr Ahmed Suleiman Duhul respectively
