-Technical committee and road-map on way forward to be established

-Earlier agreements in several prior meetings are to be implemented

By M.A. Egge

The government of Somaliland and that of Somalia have agreed to resume the Talks that had stalled for the past four years.

Following a breakthrough was realized in breaking the ice brokered by Djibouti President Ismael Omar Geelle such that the Somaliland -Somalia Talks may be resuscitated after a lull since 2019.

After a meeting of the trio on Thursday focused on the re-opening of the dialogue, the following day saw a communique that declared the resumption of the talks.

It was signed by both the interior ministers of the two countries before the heads of state Presidents amongst other dignitaries present.

The two days meeting saw 8 articles contained in the communique which includes the setting up of a technical committee who would chart the way forward through a road-map.

The press release issued on Friday night from the talks and signed by the honourables Mohamed Kahin Ahmed and  Mohamed Ma’alin Fiqi, of Somaliland and Somalia respectively went as follows:-.

“In order to speed up the process of negotiations between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Government of Somaliland, two delegations led by the President of Somalia H.E. Dr. Hassan Mohamud and the President of Somaliland H.E. Musa Bihi Abdi met with their host the President of the Republic of Djibouti H.E. Ismail Omar Guelleh who facilitated the meeting that was held for two days.

After a long discussion and debate, both sides agreed on following points:-

1. To restart the process of talks between the two parties, focusing on the issues concerned (of) destiny to reach a lasting solution.
2. That the two parties should put together a road map within a period of 30 days for discussions on the issues of fate and appoint technical committees to facilitate these issues.
3. That the two parties jointly implement the prior agreements reached in the talks between the two parties; Ankara (2012), London (June 2012), Ankara (April 2013), Istanbul (July 2013), Istanbul (January 2014), Djibouti (December 2014), Istanbul (March 2015), Ankara (April 2016) and Djibouti (June 2020).
4. That the government of Somalia’s acknowledgement of the past killings, atrocities and destruction perpetrated by the military government in Somaliland be made more concrete.
5. That the two sides should have full cooperation in the field of security, fighting against organized crime by having full communication with the relevant agencies.
6. To bring peace and stability to the places and regions where there are conflicts through traditional Somali culture.
7. That both parties should refrain from speaking and writing anything that harms the spirit of the ongoing talks.
8. The two delegations led by the two Presidents of Somaliland and Somalia, express their gratitude to the President of the Republic of Djibouti, H.E. Ismail Omar Guelle, the government and the people of Djibouti for inviting, welcoming and hosting the meetings of both parties, and they urged the him to continue doing so.”

Earlier on the President H.E. Musa Bihi Abdi and his entourage jetted off the country on Thursday morning for the crucial meeting that was bent on resuscitating the Somaliland-Somalia Talks that had stalled since 2019 in Djibouti.

The Head of State was accompanied the Ministers of Finance Hon. Dr. Saad Ali Shire, National Planning and Development Hon. Ahmed Mohamed Diriye (Toorno), Internal Affairs Hon. Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, Education and Science Hon. Ahmed Adan Buhane and the Special Envoy of Somaliland in charge of Somaliland-Somalia dialogue Lady Edna Adan Ismail, who was already in Djibouti, ahead of the President’s delegation.