Africa

SOMALILAND: FM visits Ethiopia to prepare for Silaanyo visit

November 13, 2010   ·   23 Comments

Dr Omar with Haile Mariam Desalegn, Ethiopia's new Deputy Prime Minister and MFA

HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) — Somaliland’s top diplomat has arrived in the Ethiopian capital on Friday to hold talks with the country’s senior leaders according to a state press.

Foreign Minister, Dr. Mohamed Abdullahi Omar arrived in Addis Ababa on Friday morning to discuss bilateral ties with Ethiopia’s senior leaders including Prime Minister Dr. Meles Zenawi, Foreign Affairs State Minister Mr. Nega Tsegaye and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Haile Mariam Desalegn.

The two sides are expected to discuss ways to strengthen ties in the areas of trade, diplomacy, security and political issues of the Horn of Africa.

Dr. Omar is also expected to prepare Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silaanyo’s state visit to Ethiopia. The dates of the trip have not been announced yet but he is expected to travel to Addis Ababa some in the next two weeks.

Dr Omar with Haile Mariam Desalegn, Ethiopia's new Deputy Prime Minister and MFA

President Silaanyo received an official invitation after his election in late June from Djibouti and Ethiopia. He embarked on the trip to Djibouti just last week. The trip has been successful and the two sides have agreed to open Liaison offices in their capitals (see Djibouti rolls red carpet for Somaliland President).

The Ethiopian government is also expected to give President Silaanyo a full state welcoming ceremony.
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According to a source close to the government, President Silaanyo’s next trip after Ethiopia will be to the United Kingdom after he received an official invitation from the government of David Cameron. He was educated in the UK and held many different portfolios in the old Somalia government of Siad Bare before abandoning it to take arms and leading the Somali National Movement rebels that eventually liberated Somaliland.

The trip to Ethiopia by Dr. Omar will be a new defining moment in bilateral ties between the two states. This is the second trip to Ethiopia by the FM in less than two months.

Somalilandpress | Saturday, 13 November 2010

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Readers Comments (23)

  1. aw-gass says:

    Wow! Why all of a sudden Somaliland and its new leaders are being treated with extraordinary fan fair? Some may say it is because of what Somaliland has accomplished by being a peaceful oasis in an environment engulfed by inferno. Other cynical groups assert that Somaliland is being groomed to be glued back to Somalia, where Hargeisa becomes the capital, and Seranyo as the president. Is United Nations paving the way for the use of Somaliland soil as a staging war zone against Al-shabab in Somalia? If the later is the hidden agenda, how would Somaliland people react in general, and Muse Behi, Daga Weyne, Darawal, Suleiman Gaal, in particular? Why Somaliland haters are being welcomed in Somaliland with warm and open arms? Would Riyaale, the former president, allow this? Are Osman Kaluun, Ina Booba, and Ibrahim Yare making the transitional plan for rejoining Somalia? What do we think of the new Prime Minister in Somalia, a truly close friend of Somaliland president? I am long on questions and extremely short on answers! Please help me understand what is going on! I am very concerned!

    • east african says:

      i dont see no smellyland fake flag on that picture lol that explain alot…

  2. Mukhtaar says:

    The indivituals you posted by spam all were worth nothing when they were in Zomalia, nor are they an better where ever else they choose to go. We faugh Siyadists for ten years, and Somaliand has been left unrecognised for two decades, and you are stupid to think the same people would "pave the way" in a couple of weeks or months. Go take a hike!

  3. mohamed says:

    Careful with SL-Ethio bilateral relations. Both Govts. have their special unique interests
    in the Horn of Africa violatile situations..I tend to be believe that the political stability of these two
    neighbors is more universally interlinked as compared to other neighbors in the Region.
    This in no way means to disdain other neighbors but the end justifies the means for the two
    rulers!.
    Cheers.

  4. faisal says:

    Somaliland really showing more concerns on building and strengthening it's relationship with it's neighbours and that is good.

  5. GAALE says:

    ha nolaAto SOMALILAND it will b the new DUBAI of east africa in 10 years INSHALLAHA

    • east african says:

      dreamer keep on dreamin first get a clean running water and sewarage system and feed your starving families before you even dream becoming like djibouti loooooooooool fantasist world

  6. Mohamed says:

    The future is bright, the future is Somaliland.

  7. Aw_Gass says:

    Dear Mutktaar:
    I will …
    Take a hike
    Ride a bike
    Fly a kite
    Take a bite on civil discourse
    invite you to this site
    “Where Readers are Valued and Writers Are Cherished”

  8. Kayse says:

    I do like to see my native home Ethiopia roll the red carpet for Silaanyo even though I disapprove his approach in the militants and terrorists in Eastern Somaliland such as the SSC.

    We are the backbone of the SNM and the creation of Somaliland and we will always influence its affairs. However, what is wrong with Ethiopia right now is Melez Sanawi, as soon as he goes and the rightful rulers of Ethiopia regain their throne—-Ethiopia will declare its recognition of Somaliland.

    Meles and his Tigrays need Somalis to counter balance Amhara and the Oromos. He is playing a game of rivalry between the three. If he declares recognition of Somaliland he is afraid his Tigrays have no friends in East Africa even though to Somalis Tigrays and Amhara are just "Habashi".

    But the reality is us Somali-Ethiopians prefer dealing with the Amhara who understand the land, people and even languages of the region over the Tigrays aka Highlanders.

    There is limit time that Meles can keep Ethiopia under totalitarian rule and very soon he will be isolated like his friend in Sudan (Bashir).

    Ethiopia should be prospering right now but its not, all the funds go to Meles and his Tigrays pockets, the land auctioned to rich Gulf nations for commercial farming, all the corporates sold to hungry and racist young entrepreneur Chinese who treat Ethiopians like dirt.

    Ethiopia is bleeding internally. Silaanyo might get the red carpet just to get some cheering from Hargeisa and Berbera.

    Peace.

  9. Ahmed says:

    Why are you always on a Somaliland website, talking about the politics and affairs of the country (if you are not/ don't feel you are a Somalilander)?

  10. Mohamed says:

    Dear Readers
    Visiting Ethiopia is a great thing but political discussions between the two nations may be in disarray.
    As Somaliland leaders have certainly different agendas about Somalia, Ethiopia may or may not liked . If it disagrees with Somaliland's new political agenda of what used to be Somalia and its current affairs then what would be the future bilateral relations?
    Well, think of… things are not easy and does not disappear as simply the sun raises and sets.

  11. HMObsiye says:

    I would like to make one thing clear, for those of you who think that Silanyo and his administration are gearing up the people of Somaliland towards re-union with the rest of Somalia I will say this to you it's just a wishful thinking,.Somaliland affairs is runned by it's people not the elected officials, and the people have made it's decision long time ago when it comes to Somaliland affairs, 97% of them have voted for the self-determination of their future. No leader be it Silanyo or not can make a decions on their own to move Somaliland back to failed union. Only it's people has a final say on that. If any Somaliland leader trys to re-unite, their days in Somaliland leadership decisions are numbered.

  12. youngstana says:

    you tell them.

  13. jama says:

    vv

  14. mohamed says:

    Hey folks. Mark my words.. I am inclined to believe that the new bilateral relations between SL-Ethio may come as a surprise to many disbelieves… why and how is that…because the threats and instabilities of the Horn of African countries in the Region can be curtailed specially if the Ethiopian Govt. is interested to deal with and extend a helping hand to the agendas of the S/Land including the imminent recognition as a free Nation…taking that bold historical step justifying the means of long-term bilateral fraternal relations.
    Cheers.

  15. mfish says:

    salt taste for your self other wise you will be thrown away as a stone!

  16. hassan says:

    Sillanyo can visit Djibouti, Ethiopia or any countries in world but can’t change what previous leaders haven’t change for the last 20 years. Somaliland is very poor place can’t plays in role or manipulate African Union Charter or United Nation like same rich country use, Sillanyo last visit in Djibouti was the same like Rayale, the only different is rayaal and Sillanyo was, because Rayaale was just replace after death Egaal, that way He can’t get same protocols, However as Djiboutian, in 20 years ago, SNM use “ the name BIN AHMED to be more close and help get from the ISSA’S in Deri-Dawa and Djibouti govrnment, I believe the ISSA tribe has made innermost mistake when they welcome SNM there House’s in DERI-DAWA and there region, This time we can’t accepte even the wife ISMAIL OMAR GUELLEH is ISSAQ. NO MORE MISTAKE THIS TIME.

    • Onkodq says:

      We run Djibouti and if it wont for us, you will be still stripping for the few French masters you have. Sit back and chew your garabo with your little sharpened teeth.

      90% of djibouti population live on less than a dollar, you acting like that French camp is rich!

  17. wscilmi@hotmail.com says:

    dear somalian whereever you are, first of all forget the dreams of great somalia.the people of somaliland was independen, before djbouti and mogadisho.there is a matter of poor or cant fill A.U. CHACTER,you see today southern sudan got there independence its great and tomorrow somaliland thans to almight. ethiopia is our brothers with kenya,djbouti good neighbours. please somali love peace not war?—–
    diireye

    calgary canada

  18. Fares Ahmed says:

    Recognition in Horn of Africa? Himmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

  19. Ali says:

    Kayse,
    your eriting clearly tells that you have no a tain of Soamalian blood. Do not bother us with the usual amhara supermacist view here in a somaliland case. We very well know who the Amharas are and the Tigrays. The latter has fought for 17 or so years and wiped out the Amhara domination in Ethiopia, and made the country a bacon of democracy and economic development.
    So kayse, we somalilanders know who is who in Ethiopia and do not try to mess up here.

  20. ali says:

    Correction: You writing


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