Somalia: Egypt’s deputy Foreign Minister visits Somaliland

HARGEISA, Somaliland – A delegation led by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Egypt has on Tuesday, May 7, arrived in Somaliland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia, Garowe Online reports.

Hamdi Sanad Luza and his entourage were received by the president of the self-declared republic, Muse Bixi Abdi at the presidential Palace in Hargeisa, where both sides held talks focused on a range of issues.

In a Twitter post, Abdi said he and the visiting deputy FM discussed on Somaliland’s relations with Egypt, trade, livestock, and the socio-economic integration between the two communities.

Egypt shares a long history of cultural, religious, and trade ties with Somalia.

Last Sunday, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and a delegation from South African-based Brenthurst foundation paid a visit to Somaliland and had a meeting Muse Bihi and the Vice president.

This comes amid a deadlock between the state’s three political parties over the parliamentary and local elections with reports that there are calls to change the current electoral body blamed for corruption.

Somaliland, which has a population of about four million, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following a bloody civil war, but, until now it is not internationally recognized as a country.

GAROWE ONLINE