Somalia: Somaliland Opposition Leader wants pause in talks with Federal Govt

HARGEISA, Somalia-Somaliland’s Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) Leader Faisal Ali Warabe says, he wants that talks with Somalia’s Federal Government (SFG) be suspended until a new government comes into office later this year, Garowe Online reports. 

Warabe was speaking in Somaliland capital, Hargeisa upon his return from overseas trip. 

“I believe, talks between Somalia and Somaliland cannot continue at the present time [for one thing]. Hassan Sheikh [Somalia President]’s government left dialogue in ruins, and you know those who were representing them [at Istanbul conference]; now is a time for election campaign, and we should not be used as an election tool,” the outspoken Opposition Leader said of bilateral talks. 

Turkey-brokered talks collapsed after Somaliland withdrew for the presence of Somaliland native politicians at the negotiating table last year.  

Deputy Prime Minister, Mohamed Omar Arte, later noted that he hopes for UN-backed national government and Somaliland to resume dialogue very soon.

UCID leader chided Mohamud’s administration for being unable to make talks fruitful: 

“Somalia government could not steer the dialogue ahead. I and Hassan Sheikh know each other, he is not frank in this, and we need to wait for the next government.” A ministerial committee named by President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo unveiled that this year’s celebration would be different to previous ones, with world to be petitioned for recognition on May 18. 

Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia declared its independence from the rest of the country as a de facto sovereign State in 1991 but it has not been recognized internationally yet.

GAROWEONLINE