By M.A. Egge
A high delegation of Somaliland government officials joined Great Britain in the Celebrations of HM Queen Elizabeth the 2nd 90th birthday at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The celebrations which were observed extensively in all commonwealth countries hence especially marked more intensively in the UK and in the countries of Canada and Australia to which she is officially the Head of State.
The Somaliland delegation also consisted of officials who were already on official visit to Ethiopia and others on their way back from Turkey.
They were:
- Hon. Aden H. Ali, the Chairman of the Supreme Court
- Hon. Musa Bihi Abdi , the Kulmiye flagbearer and Chairman
- Hon. Dr. Sa’ad Ali Shire, Foreign Minister
- Hon. Mohamud Hashi Abdi, the Presidency Minister
- Hon. Ali Mohammed Waran’adde, the Interior Minister
- Hassan Ahmed Aden, the Attorney General
The delegation sent a congratulatory message to the Queen on the occasion on behalf of the President and the people of Somaliland and a separate one to the government of the UK which thankfully acknowledged the support SL receives from Britain and the associated bilateral relations between the two countries which are of strong ties.
While they were at Addis Ababa, the SL team met with various international diplomats whereby they updated the IC on SL’s democracy and electoral processes and the country’s aspirations.
The Ethiopian Education and Cultural and Tourism Ministers Shferaus Shigute and Asha Mohammed Muse respectively are some of the Ethiopian officials whom the delegation met with.
Hon. Waran’adde held further lengthy meetings with Ethiopian security officials.
Kulmiye chairman is on his way visiting East African countries.
On the other hand the Foreign Minister and that of the Presidency met with the Turkish Foreign Minister earlier on in the week.
Their talks focused on the resuscitation of the SL-Somalia talks which was put on hold and convened by Turkey.