Africa

Djibouti delegation for Silaanyo’s inauguration

July 26, 2010   ·   173038 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2Fdjibouti-delegation-for-silaanyos-inauguration-17303Djibouti+delegation+for+Silaanyo%27s+inauguration2010-07-26+17%3A53%3A48Qalinle+Husseinhttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2F%3Fp%3D17303

HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) — A 16-member delegation from the republic of Djibouti were warmly received in Egal International Airport by Somaliland officials on Sunday.

The delegation led by Ali Abdi Farah, Minister of Communication and Culture consisted of Parliamentarians, Ministers, investors and other dignitaries and will take part in the inauguration of President Elect Ahmed Silaanyo on Tuesday [July 27th]. They were flown into Hargeisa by a private jet and were warmly received by Somaliland delegation which consisted of both the outgoing government and the new administration.

This was another historical moment for Somaliland to see both the outgoing ministers and possible ministers in the new government working together to welcome their friends.

Somaliland delegation included outgoing Foreign Minister, Mr Abdullahi Duale, Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Ali Mohamed Waran Adde, Interior Minister, Mr Abdullahi Ismael Ali ‘Irro’, Mayor of Hargeisa, Eng. Hussein Mohamoud Ji’ir, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Abdulrisaq Waberi Roble, Deputy Chairman of incoming Kulmiye Party, Mr Muse Bihi Abdi, Foreign Secretary of Kulmiye Party, Dr. Mohamed Abdullahi Omar and Secretary General of outgoing UDUB party, Mr Omar Farah Jama.

While speaking to local media, Mr Farah said the election in Somaliland was a lesson for the rest of Africa and the wider community. He praised the election and said the government and people of Djibouti were following the elections very closely throughtout the country day and night.

“As Djiboutians, I can say we were part of the election. During the election night, we stayed up and followed the elections closely. There was joy among you. We were happy for you too. We were happy with you. We deliver warm message from the President, government and people of Djibouti – a message of compassion and brotherhood. We convey our congratulations to you,” he said.

On the Somaliland side, Foreign Secretary of Kulmiye Party, Dr. Mohamed Abdullahi Omar stressed the bonds of friendship and brotherhood, based on shared traditions, common faith and heritage between the two nations. He said under the new Silaanyo leadership, his government will further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two people in all fields in particular in economy, security and democracy to the mutual benefit of the two nations. He thanked the government of Djibouti for their support and the high-delegation.

Other regional states including Kenya and Ethiopia are sending their own delegation for the swearing-in ceremony in Hargeisa, but so far no identify of the officials has being revealed.

Silaanyo is to be formally sworn-in on Tuesday as the fourth president of Somaliland since it restored it’s sovereignty in 1991, after the opposition Kulmiye Party swept to victory with 49 percent of the vote in the country’s third democratic polls last month.

The election has been largely praised as free and fair by regional and international key states. European countries such as United Kingdom and France are also sending a delegation to Hargeisa. Dominique Decherf, the French ambassador to Djibouti, spearheading a delegation recently visited Hargeisa and congratulated the people, Ahmed Silaanyo, outgoing President Dahir Riyaale Kahin and second opposition leader Faisal Ali Warabe. The French government promised to provide funds for Somaliland universities and hospitals.

The U.S. which partly funded the election welcomed the elections as a milestone for Somaliland.

“The election marks an important milestone for the people of Somaliland. We congratulate the winner and commend the other candidates for their statesmanlike acceptance of the results,” the U.S. said in a statement.

Photo: Barkhad M. Kariye/HOL

Somalilandpress | Monday, 26 July 2010

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By Qalinle Hussein

Tags: Delegation, Djibouti, Silaanyo, Somaliland