Somaliland
Somaliland President stops over in Addis Ababa enroute China
August 9, 2011 · 27 Comments
ADDIS ABABA — President Ahmed M. Silanyo and a ministerial delegation enroute to China reached the Ethiopian capital on Monday morning after staying in Dire Dawa over night.
The President was received at the airport by representatives from the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Mohamed Abdullahi Omar, Somaliland Foreign Affairs Minister, said the visit was a continuation effort to explore new economic relations and bilateral ties with the government of Ethiopia. He added Somaliland and Ethiopia enjoyed close fraternal relations and the current visit would contribute to further strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation in multiple domains between the two neighboring states.
When asked about the unscheduled stop over in Dire Dawa, Dr Omar stated: “Due to mechanical failures with our private jet, we had to wait in Dire Dawa until it was fixed.”
President Silanyo is accompanied to China by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Mining and Water Resources, Minister of Agriculture, Presidential Secretary, Director of Berbera Seaport and the First Lady.
Whilst there is considerable secrecy surrounding the Beijing discussions, there is speculation that the discussion will focus on China’s access to aggregates and various other minerals in the Horn. The Port of Berbera is expected to dominate the agenda as China has expressed its interest in order to thwart a possible Indian investment in Berbera and its vicinity. The issue of Berbera will be first discussed in Addis Ababa, as landlocked Ethiopia tries to gain greater access. It is believed a three-way contract will be signed between Somaliland, Ethiopia and China.
Sources close to the government say Somaliland might lease the port to the global port operator and Hong Kong based Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH). They added HPH might team up with another Hong Kong based firm, PetroTrans Company Ltd, an oil and gas exploring giant which already won concession to explore oil in Ethiopia’s Ogaden region. The Chinese company plans to build gas transport infrastructure and processing facilities in Berbera where it will export.
The European Union has also provided funds to carry out a study on the construction of modern roads between Berbera and the town of Togwajale near the Ethiopian border.
The Chinese have expressed interest in gaining access to the port which will allow them to export not only gas and oil but also agricultural goods from the region. Ethiopia has already approved 20m hectares of land for commercial farming to capital-exporting countries, a policy that is proving highly controversial as many people in their own country are starving. They will grow staple crops and export them back to their homelands. The Chinese want to operate a port that will handle all these exports.
The Chinese have already began constructing a number of key projects in Ethiopia including highways and roads and there are plans to link Berbera, Addis Ababa and Juba in South Sudan.
The Hargeisa government mentioned a number of times it wants to establish the first railway line in the country and connect to key networks in the region. It will discuss with the Chinese investors. China has claimed it is in a position to help Somaliland with its transportation infrastructure, food security, education and water needs.
In Addis Ababa, the President met with Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. The two sides discussed bilateral and trade issues as well as regional security. For all apparent cordiality serious tensions remain.
Somalilandpress | 9 August 2011
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Tags: Berbera, China, Ethiopia, President Silanyo
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Mashallah good news
who thehell to believe somalilandpress or waaheen
Lets hope we get deals that benefit the people of Somaliland. Connecting Berbera to both Addis Ababa and Juba is massive task but also a rewarding one. We could become the gateway of the region, we are after all at the center of Africa, Middle East and Asia.
We can reach a deal that pleases all three partners (Somaliland, China and Ethiopia). Somaliland as the host, China as the financiers and technical body and Ethiopia as the user.
If we can export Ethiopian, South Sudanese and Somaliland oil and gas via Berbera, its fantastic development for Somaliland.
Right now Somaliland needs China and the port of Berbera will become the next Hong Kong of the Horn.
I am so glad Southern Somalia is not landlocked and have better ports than Somaliland, the three ports Mogadishu, Marka and Kismayu are bigger better built than the old Berbera port, this will help stop any possible conflict between us just incase Somaliland gets recognition. In the meantime it is possible that China will use the port since they are hungry for economic gains and are willing to deal with anyone, let alone Somaliland which is peaceful, China has delt with rebels in Nigeria and Darfur. The sensitive part is the part of mineral and oil exploration in Somaliland which Somali's government objects.
To correct you, Berbera is much better than the ports you mentioned as it has one of the best deep water harbours in the World. Also the Somali government you mentioned if indeed it exists at all, has neither the authority nor the power to object to anything we do. and the World knows that.
The key point here is south Somalia and Somaliland's ability to walk their own separate paths. The South is much greener than the north and in time I think both regions will be able to coexist with both sides complementing the other. Regardless, however, this is still wishful thinking under the current circumstances. We still have to deal with the drought, famine and traditional clannish mentality. Allah(swt) help us!
Warya the South used to be green but not anymore.
Hhahaha! Government who?
Back in the days when there was something called the Somali Republic, Mogadishu was the largest port and Berbera was the second largest but now things have shifted…Mogadishu only exports charcoals to the Gulf, all the livestock in the Horn are exported from Berbera.
Mogadishu port imports weapons, Berbera imports all the goods and materials, Ethiopia's food aid, even last year the WFP had to import food aid to central Somalia from Berbera…Mogadishu port is history
Mr. Administrator i admire how you hate the REALITY.
SOMALIS or Horn africain stop fighting for a bone.Djibouti,Berbera,Bosaaso,Mogadishio,Kismayo would be all booming businesses . if somali , somaliland and ethiopia could exploit all their ressources and stop this doggy battle.
If the great somali state did not work out then the peace and economy cooperation in respect of colonial border is the best solution to improve all our lifes.
Politics and religipn have kill our dream,Economic and cooperation could be solution.
If all these dreams turns into a reality, it will be a beneficial to all the people on the horn, including Djibouti and the rest of Somali speaking regions. So let's pray to Allah that this dream realized.
Mashallah, excellent news inshallah this is a huge improvement in development for Somaliland and Berbera will be a booming port town and inshallah this development will our beloved brothers and sisters in Somalia and wherever somalis are in east africa and may Allah (swt) lift the famine from our brothers and sisters in Somalia Wabillahi Tawfiiq.
So sad to see all Somali leaders stopping over in Addis abeba and meeting Third class Ethiopian diplomats every time they travel abroad. So sad to see Somali people starving in Ethiopia while they are building billion dollar oil factories in somali regions. So sad to see Ethiopian army crossing over the Somali border whenever they want. We cannot ignore That Meles Zenawi Rules over the Horn of Africa.
The deputy prime minister and foreign minister is not exactly a third class diplomat. Anyway, unlike shiekh dalxiis of Mogadishu, our president met him to discuss business and not for a photo opportunity. And the relationship between Somaliland and Ethiopia is cordial. Moreover, the Ogadenis starving in Ethiopia are not the responsibility of the Somaliland government which takes care of its own citizens.
@Abraham
Brother i dont care who meets who, but at least feel some mercy for the suffering of the Somalis in Ogadenia, its not about tribe anymore its about humanity, even Kayse who is bro Israel said couple days ago in one of his postings that Somaliland should watch the way they deal with this Tigre regime, Didn't yu see the pictures of a Tigre soldiers raping pregnant Somali woman, trust me brother the regime in Adis Ababa is not Somaliland's best friend. I am a southerner, but I am Somali and muslim and so i would side with Somaliland if their civilians were abused by christian tigre soldiers.
True, I do see your point; however, not too long ago our southern brothers were doing far worse – pillaging, aerial bombing, mining cities and RAPING.
So not to sound harsh, but I fail to see the logical difference between southerns and tigre regime. They are both capable of tremendous evil. In fact, I would go so far as to say that our southern brothers are a bigger disappointment for the simple fact that they are MUSLIMS…right! Even women trying to escape north to Yemen and south to Kenya are not being spared by their fellow clansmen.
Wallahi I could say is Somaliland will continue to support our displaced brothers in whatever way we can, but I am afraid the bonds of brotherhood has been lost between us forever.
Mashaa Allaah, our government officials are trying hard to attract and enthral foreign investors to improve the rebuilding and development of our country.
They must though remember what and where the sisterly love union with Somalia have gotten us. Death and destruction and 50 years backward. They should negotiate in good faith. Of course looking after the interest of Somalilanders and should proceed with great caustion making any deals or signing contracts in hast. Read between the lines folks and recognize pitfalls and entrapment of legal documents or lured into dangerous territory that might be hard to get out off it.. Besides, the benefits must out weigh the loss. Illahay ha idin garb galo, Aamin Yaa Rab Alcaalamin.
To Dahir: Do you forget what the entire Somali speaking, especially those in Ogaden and Somalia did to us? We still support those in need, and we do not have conflict with the dying children and women, but when our entire population were sent refugees to Ethiopia, all Somalis were watching and have done nothing for us. They did not even shown sympathy for us, while we have been suffering. There are those who accuse Somalilanders are indifferent to what is happening to women & children in Somalia, while forgetting that our people are busy in collecting money all over the world.
That is the difference between us and you Somalis. All Somalis regardless where they live, have been with Siyaad Barre, when he was killing our people. I was one of twelve people held at the border between Ethiopia and Djibouti in 1988, and kept a military baracks for two weeks, while our people in Djibouti were negotiating with Ismail Omar Geeleh who wanted to handover us to Lawya'ado Faqash, because we are Somalilanders, going back to their country of work to support our people.
@ brother Boqoljire
I totally understand what you saying and no one i repeat no one condones the actions of the dictator in the past, but you are not alone. The southerners also suffered in the hands of former regime, I understand you are bitter, but you have to forgive and move on. I lived in a small village in the south when troops loyal to the dictator came and took away anyone who opposed the government. In the south Ogadens took arms against Bare and suffered same fate as you did. My point is brother that no one doubts that Isaaqs suffered too when they took arms, lets pray for those who died and forgive one another.
Dahir: Denial after denial, that why we are world apart.
Don't you ever compare what you guys did to our people with fake miss information you always try to show the world. Your subversion of the truth and the language you are using now is now, is what make us angry and kept us to hold on our achievements. Keep away from us, please. The Ogaden you are talking about are those whom Siyaad Barre resettled our country and ethnic cleansed us in 1980s. In Hargeisa they use to call us Qudhmis, but we defeated them finally.
Brother Dahir,
the most painful thing is when the people who rape your women, kill your fathers, brothers and children and treat you worst than animals are your own Muslim Somali brothers and no la ilha ila Alla would stop them. Women were being raped in front of their fathers or brothers the hatred that was shown towards the issaq during the war is something scary is like the soldiers were not Muslims. and regardless of that I have always been supporting the ogadens against the tigry and amharas for the simple reason of them being Somali, Muslim and oppressed human being but I'm afraid brother boqoljire and many somalilanders don't have the heart for it anymore. May Allah bring back the brotherhood bond that is lost
@Dahir
You are a good man I am sure and may Allah reward you for that, but the simple undeniable truth is that the entire Somali people including those in Djibouti either sided with the tyrant dictator and his Darood militia who wanted to obliterate the Isaaq people or where scared and did absolutely nothing to stop his murderous campaign. No Darood tribe took up arms or protested against the aggression of their leader because they all supported his plans of subjugating and exploiting all non Darood clans. But the Almighty sided with us and humiliated them. and we thank Him and praise Him for that. To be fair, the Hawiye clan did help us later, although unintentionally when they invaded Mogadishu and brought down the evil Darood regime. Kudos to them.
Despite what you think of me brother, I do care about and sympathise with the suffering Somalis both in the South and in Ethiopia, even though the Majeerteen are always a torn on our side and the Ogadenis are full of hate for us for no apparent reason and still today try to harm us in whatever way they can. All I can really say is may Allah guide these misguided folks.
In this holy month of Ramadan I am praying for the innocent people who are dying everyday in Somalia and now the drought have added an extra and unwelcome pressure to their already fragile circumstances. May Allah bring peace to Somalia.
Somaliland is in the right path not only we enjoy peace, but also a good governement who has the best interest of the people in his heart, with the chinese investment and frequent contact with the european country we are in the right path and this is the way to achieve Recognition, soon the mentality of the world will be not to avoid the elephant in the room.
This is the future of Somaliland if you can visualize it.
1)Free, Stable, prosperous, democratic and open Somaliland that is not recognised as Taiwan, with very strong respect from the western countries and the Somalilanders in diaspora.
2) Or corrupt and wealthy government with discontented local public and feeling of contempt from the somalilanders in diaspora. Plus huge environmental disaster and ecological imbalance and very strong relationship with china.
I would prefer number one but that is my opinion. It is not too late to choose the right path and stay away from China.
Fake Kayse get a username son and express your own views instead of following me.
Even here we cannot agree with each other, this tribes thing is what brought most of us out of our country, and after all this years instead of moving forward with our lives we are still going back to the past. As Somalilanders we are moving forward because we have learned from the past and there is no way going back to a marriage that did not work with Somalia after all we initiated this marriage back in the sixties and we also decided to end it so let's pray and help the innocent who are suffering in Somalia like a good neighbor.