Africa

Djibouti and Kenyan delegation to attend the inauguration of Somaliland President-elect Silaanyo

July 25, 2010   ·   13 Comments

HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) — Appointed presidential delegation representing the Republic of Djibouti and Kenya are expected to arrive in Hargeisa later today to attend the inauguration of Somaliland President-elect Ahmed Mohamed Silaanyo on Tueday July 27th, local sources said.

The Djibouti Delegation consisting of 16 members were appointed by President Ismail Omar Guelleh and will be led by the Minister of Finance, Ali Farah Adnan. Mr Adnan will be joined by Ali Abdi Farah, Minister of Communication and Culture, Mohamed Somali, Chairman of National Initiative for Social Development, Ahmed Hersi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice and Hashi Abdillahi Orrah, Senior Advisor to the President of Djibouti.

On the Kenyan side, it’s still unclear the number and the exact details about their delegation but sources close to the new administration indicated, the Kenyan delegation will arrive after the Djiboutians. A number of senior ministers is expected to be among those Nairobi sends to Hargeisa. This comes weeks after, former Kenyan Minister for Trade and Industry, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi called on the Kenyan government to re-think its policy towards Somalia and immediately recognize Somaliland (see Former Kenyan minister calls for recognition of Somaliland). A number of senior Kenyan ministers and MPs support Dr Kituyi’s vision including the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.

The newly-elected president, Ahmed Mohamed Silaanyo, a British educated, won 49 percent of the vote in the June 26th presidential elections. The election has being hailed free and fair by international observers, organizations, media, neighboring countries and both by the United Kingdom and the United States.

The British PM David Cameron praised the election as “peaceful and credible” and promised to do more.

President Dahir Riyale Kahin, who managed around 33 percent of the vote gracefully accepted the defeat paving the way for a peaceful transition of political power. Mr Riyale said he will stay in politics as an opposition leader.

The results were endorsed by the Chief Justice Mohamed Hersi Omane on the 11th of July. Ever since Somaliland has been preparing it self for the inauguration of the President-elect. Police and military have been placed on red alert while large security contingents were taken to the border with neighbouring Somalia. Foreign intelligence led by the British have also been pouring into Hargeisa and large Somaliland Diasporas have managed to make their way into the country. Some are here to witness the historical day while others want to get a position in the new government.

The al-Qaeda-inspired al-Shabab operating in Somalia have voiced against the elections and urged people not to practice the ‘evil principle’ however more than half a million cast their votes.

Silaanyo will face a number of economic, social and security problems. Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges Silaanyo will have to overcome during his term. The region is largely known for it’s endless wars and the failed state of Somalia is just next door. Many Somalis are hoping Silaanyo will engage with Somalia – a country where he once held the Minister of Commerce portfolio.

The election was largely financed by a number of EU countries, UK and the United States. The UK plans to send a delegation to Hargeisa during the inaugurations from it’s embassy in Addis Ababa, its unclear if the U.S. will send anyone.

Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silaanyo and his Vice Abdulrahman Abdullahi Ismael ‘Saylaci’ will take the oath of office on Monday July 26th for a term of five years.

Somaliland gained its independence from Great Britain in June 1960 and voluntarily merged with its neighbour, Italian Somaliland, forming what was known as the Somali Republic. But that union went sour after a short period and Somaliland was forced to take arms against Mogadishu. The regime in Mogadishu collapsed in 1991 and Somaliland declared the restoration of its sovereignty – however no nation has since accepted Somaliland.

Somalilandpress | Sunday, 25 July 2010

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Readers Comments (13)

  1. HMObsiye says:

    All these guest and diplomat coming means nothing, unless Somaliland is recognized as an Independent state, it's time for a brave leader from the neighbouring Countries to step forward to declare recognition. Otherwise, the status quo will remain thesame.

     Reply
  2. Jay says:

    it's good to have friends and your neighbors to come and celebrate with you. We welcome the Kenyan and Djibouti delegation as we always welcome our guests.

    Bonjour and Jambo to you both!

     Reply
  3. Fax says:

    Low level delegates looooooool

     Reply
  4. Mohamed says:

    Hey Jay,

    Good to have friends yes indeed and both Kenya and Djibouti are
    indispensible neighbors. But I don't see the Ethiopian delegation,
    or am I missing something here?
    Bonjour, Jambo and cheers to you!

     Reply
    • Jay says:

      The Ethiopians will always be there, whether they arrive first or last. They be there in large delegation.

       Reply
  5. Mustafe says:

    Geele the fox is playing a different game now he is trying to look pro Somaliland without even showing up for the celebrations or allow May 18 to be held in his country. Where is the office he promised Riyale? He knows Somalilanders are onto his tricks

     Reply
  6. Mohamed says:

    Geele made peace with Eritrea and he wants to make peace with
    Somaliland too, whats wrong with that!!!
    Bonjour if Cheers doesn't work in Somalia.

     Reply
  7. Mohamed says:

    Correction : Bonjour If Cheers doesn't work in Somaliland.

     Reply
  8. Kayse says:

    Djibouti has no choice but to make peace with Somaliland, the recent delegation has put pressure on all authoratarian regimes in the region such as Omar Gulleh who wants to change the constitution to get rid off the maximum term which a president can run for an "election".

    Furthermore the French are more interested in Somaliland than Djibouti right now. They have being in Djibouti forever and nothing has changed. French interest in the region has not worked to their advantages, so they wondering if Djibouti station is working.

    They are investing millions of dollars into Somaliland education system to export to us some cheap and corrupted thing called "French culture" or identity and is part of its fight for 'exception culturelle'.

    I think if Somaliland doesnt limit, control or stop this it will become like a corrupted society such as Djibouti where many ill, non-African, non-Somali things are practiced. They don't even speak Somali. Arabs in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia hardly speak Arabic, Algeria been the worst.

    The French are promoting this through two organisations, Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF) or in English "Movement of the French Enterprises" and another organisation which I forgot it's name. Anyways promotes the French language, they are in Hargeisa already.

    We should allow French but we should not allow France to run our education system and we reject their culture because they dont allow other cultures in their own country. France is not tolerant towards other cultures and people. We should deal with them other ways. Their education is no better than other countries and their culture is nasty!

     Reply
  9. guuleed says:

    politics,, politics,, it is crucial to understand the meaning of this word,,, you should always play the game well and let others try their best. ( No friendship or animosity with in politics) every one must understand that friends.,

     Reply
  10. Mohamed says:

    Hey Kayse,

    You have the Somaliland English speaking, The Djibouti french speaking, and Somalia Italian speaking; but if you glimpse East African Countries, you will notice that the British Culture and language is the dominant status quo, though nontheless, the French and Italians are always around to fit in somewhere. Easy go man, Somaliland is just trying to unshackle itself from the obstinately awkward situations was pushed into since 1960s?
    Other than getting tough and showing some hard work, Somaliland is not
    yet in pretty good shape to breadth a sign of relief out of the many problems
    around.
    Cheers.

     Reply
  11. Xaashi says:

    If Raila Odinga were the president of Kenya today, he would have recognised Somaliland a long time ago!

    It's that old fart Kibaki who's against us.

     Reply
  12. abdiqassim says:

    Indirectly, looks Somaliland has been recognized, that's why they'll
    be coming, more of them. We got be patient!!!

     Reply