Somaliland slams Fiqi over remarks targeting EU diplomats

HARGEISA, Somalia - The breakaway region of Somaliland has slammed Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, terming his recent remarks as 'incitement' and 'hate speech' in what could yet again trigger differences between Mogadishu and Hargeisa.

Somaliland information minister Ali Hassan Mohamed said comments by Somalia foreign minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi about Somaliland elections show “envy" to the region which is striving to breakaway from Somalia.

“ They are envious of the progress by Somaliland people,” he said, adding: "Where we have come from shows sheer determination and hard work, we shall finally reach the destination without huff."

Somaliland held presidential elections quite recently but the results are yet to be declared in a contest that was widely monitored within Africa. Incumbent Muse Bihi Abdi is facing stiff competition from Abdirahman Irro of the Waddani party and Faisal Warabe of UCID.

On Saturday, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi sent a stern warning to the European diplomats in Somalia for recent comments about the Somaliland elections. Don’t refer to Somaliland as a separate country, it’s a region in Somalia, he said.

Fiqi said he summoned the Danish ambassador to Somalia Steen Andersen for comments he made while in Hargeisa, arguing that the diplomats should be careful with their actions which should strictly align themselves to existing diplomatic agreements.

“Somalia is one country, regardless of differences. We will not accept for an ambassador a government sent to Somalia to describe part of it as a [separate] country; we will not accept them to hide the country they have been posted to; to shy away or be afraid of mentioning the country they are sent to,” he said.

Fiqi warned them about statements they make concerning Somaliland elections.“It must be based on an election in a region in Somalia. The differences are for Somalis to solve, not the outsiders."

GAROWE ONLINE