THT: Somaliland took a front seat in the fifth swearing ceremony of Ismail Omar Gelle as president of Djibouti.
Somaliland president Musa Bihi Abdi was amongst several leaders of States and Representatives of Nations who graced the Djibouti Presidential inauguration of the incumbent Ismail Omer Guelleh for his fifth term.
Apart diplomats representing various governments and international institutions notable in attendance with President Bihi were Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, Guinea Conakry President Alpha Kaonde, and Ethiopian Premier Abiy Ahmed, whereas South Sudan was represented her Vice President, Rwanda, and Somalia led by their Prime Minister’s and Uganda by its deputy Prime Minister
Conspicuously missing was the Somalia president Mohamed Abdilahi Farmajo thus PM Roble’s attendance.
The absence of Farmajo who was in Burundi can be attributed to the conflict with Djibouti’s Guelleh who he accuses of siding with Kenya in the dispute with Somalia.
Breaking with traditions not only was upon arrival President Bihi and his delegation accorded a red carpet welcome subsequent events saw him share the dais at an equal footing with other heads of state.
While he sat next to President Alpha Conte of Guinea at the President Guelleh swearing-in Ceremony, President Bihi shared many moments with both his host and Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Though the statement from the Presidential press service on the return of the head of state back home did not mention, several sideline meetings took place.
A credible source privy to ongoing in Djibouti revealed that president Bihi undertook swearing-in sideline meetings with the Presidents of Guinea, Djibouti and Kenya
Guinea is a special friend to Somaliland as can be ascertained by President Farmajo of Somalia severing ties with her after President Conte hosted Bihi in Conakry.
According to our sources Presidents, Bihi and Kenyatta held lengthily discussions as pertains to their joint Nairobi MOU of December 2020.
In focus was the establishment of full diplomatic relations thence the opening of consul General offices in both their capitals of Hargeisa and Nairobi.
Kenya has not already appointed its Somaliland representative but has acquired and furnished relevant offices.
Also on the table was the start of direct Hargeisa -Nairobi flights by Kenya airways-KQ.
With Somalia and Kenya on a diplomatic standoff thus ongoing Mogadishu Nairobi flight ban by the Kenyans as well as the airspace dispute between Somaliland and Somalia, the use of Djibouti by KQ in its Nairobi-Hargeisa route were breached.
“President Guelleh is very ok with this arrangement,” said our source
As of now Somalilanders and the many Kenyans in Somaliland as well as other foreigners anxiously await the flights.
Currently, Somaliland is served by Ethiopian airlines only this making cost of air travel very expensive
Departing from his very successful foray to Djibouti President Biwasand his entou6 were seen off at Xumbuli Airport by the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Water Mohamed Ahmed Awale (Mohamed Somali) and the Ambassador of Somaliland to Djibouti, Abdifatah Said Ahmed.
Upon arrival at the Egal International Airport in Hargeisa, the delegation was given a warm welcome back home by a guard of honour mounted by the Somaliland armed forces as well as a delegation of government officials