Somaliland: President Bihi Conditions Resumption of Talks with Somalia to Sovereignty Recognition

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Horn of Africa diplomacy will fail without serious investment
Diplomats, presidents, and prime ministers gathered in the tiny East African nation of Djibouti to attend the Consultative Summit on relations between Somaliland and Somalia

Somalilandsun:  Somaliland remains committed to a peaceful co-existence with Somalia. However, Somaliland insists in that the dialogue should be a two state process with a substantive agenda that address the core issues of the dispute Bihi Abdi during his opening remarks to the Consultation Summit on Relations between Somaliland and Somalia in Djibouti.

President Bihi Addresses the Consultation Summit on Relations between Somaliland and Somalia in Djibouti

The summit hosted by the president of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelle has participation  that includes  a high level Somalia delegation led  president  Mohamed Abdilahi Farmajo, Ethiopia Prime minister Abiy Ahmed, Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union, Dr. Wrkneh Gebeyehu – The Executive Secretary of IGAD, Donald Yamamoto – The US Ambassador to Somalia and Somaliland, Joseph Silva – The Head of the European Union in Djibouti and Representative of the United Nations as well as numerous ambassadors.

Prior to touching on the agenda Somaliland wants included thence talks resumption the head of state gave a concise brief on the atrocities committed to citizens of his country in the 90s by the administration of dictator Siyad Barre

Quote- Ever since Somaliland entered hastily into a voluntary union with Somalia, the people of Somaliland has been at the receiving end of injustice, discrimination and state sponsored genocide at the hands of the Somalia government.

PM Abiy Ahmed and Ethiopian delegation at the Consultation Summit on Relations between Somaliland and Somalia in Djibouti

Evidence of widespread war crimes committed against the people of Somaliland has been fully documented by the UN special Rapporteur for human rights and a forensic team from physicians for human rights and Somaliland War Crimes Commission. Unquote

Thanking Somalia for their sincere apology today for the horrors of yesteryear committed in Somaliland while acknowledging that The current generation of Somalia was of course not responsible for what the previous generation president Bihi said that “The act of recognising and supporting the independence of Somaliland would go a long way to heal the wounds of the past and enable our two states to embrace each other in our independent but closely interwoven futures”.

President Guelle and the Djboution delegation at the a Consultation Summit on Relations between Somaliland and Somalia in Djibouti

Stating that the key to sustainable and peaceful future lies in an honest and sincere dialogue between Somaliland and Somalia under the auspice of a neutral and impartial international mediation mechanism and a guarantor,

On the issue of resumption of stalled talks with Somalia the distinguished participants were informed that “though Somaliland remains committed to a peaceful co-existence with Somalia  insists in that the dialogue should be a two state process with a substantive agenda that address the core issues of the dispute.

IC representatives at the Consultation Summit on Relations between Somaliland and Somalia in Djibouti

“Today, how can we proceed to this dialogue, if the previously signed agreements in London, Istanbul and Djibouti were not implemented yet? We cordially propose that a serious mediation mechanism and a guarantor should be in place for this new round dialogue” said president Bihi aas he laid blame of stalled talks on the shoulders of Somalia’s president Farmajo.

The two days consultation meeting shall come to a close tomorrow with expectations being high for a communique detailing agreement.

Edna Adan parley the IC at the Consultation Summit on Relations between Somaliland and Somalia in Djibouti

Full Text of the address below

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