Somaliland President starts tour east

LASANOD_ Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud (Siilaanyo) has started a critical tour that might be wrapped up in Buuhoodle, making first stopover in Somaliland’s second largest city, Burao by Sunday.

Accompanied by an entourage of ministers and other government officials, President Siilaanyo is set to visit disputed Lasanod town and Erigavo ahead of general elections in early 2017.

According to insiders, Somaliland leader who relinquished his bid for re-election campaign wants to present candidacy of close ally Muse Bihi Abdi to supporters before itinerary takes him to Lasanod and possibly Buuhoodle over the next few days.

Somaliland Health Minister Saleban Isse Ahmed is now in Buuhoodle under tight escort that may be signaling imminent visit by Siilaanyo.

If confirmed, the trip will mark the first by Somaliland President.

Local clans and Somaliland forces previously clashed in deadly battles in the strategic town.

--Passport barbs

Somaliland Interior Minister Ali Mohamed Waran Adde has downplayed a request for Immigration and Naturalization Office, saying Somaliland enjoys own passport.

He added that he has not been officially informed about news regarding opening of Somali Federal Government Immigration and Naturalization Office in Somaliland capital, Hargeisa.

“To tell the truth, it’s one of a lot of miraculous information being heard from Somalia. Gafow was among a group of officers I used to command. But, I guess it is President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud that [stokes], “Waran Adde told reporters.

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

SOURCE: GAROWEONLINE