-Government calls upon the IC to be wary of the recent spate of inhumane acts perpetrated against Somaliland citizens
-It condemns misguided near-fatal directives to disrupt air traffic flow
By M.A. Egge
The government of the Republic of Somaliland has sternly warned the government of Somalia to immediately desist from killing, torturing and harming Somaliland citizens in its territory.
The state also called upon the International Community (IC) to take note and be especially wary of the recent spate of inhumane killings, attacks and incarcerations subjected to Somaliland citizens in Mogadishu.
So, too, has the government condemned the misguided near-fatal directives emanating from Mogadishu that disrupted traffic in Somaliland’s air-space almost causing collusions of two major airlines.
These were contained in a press release from the Presidency on Thursday following the weekly cabinet ministerial meetings and their resolutions.
Press release-29-02-2024
The 125th session of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Somaliland which was held today on 29/02/2024 at the Presidency that was chaired by the President of the Republic of Somaliland H.E. Musa Bihi Abdi while flanked by the Vice President H.E. Abdirahman Abdilahi Ismail ( Sayli’i) mainly reviewed and focused on the regional security.
Since the two governments of the Republic of Somaliland and the Federal Government of Ethiopia, signed the Memorandum of Agreement on 01.01.2024, the Mogadishu government has waged an open war against the people of Somaliland, immediately after they gave up on the international community. The even resorted to cooperate with the extremist groups, as evidenced by the radio controlled by the government of Mogadishu statement on Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and other leaders of Somalia.
Other hostile measures taken by the government of Mogadishu include turning back a medical aid plane that was airlift a citizen in need of specialized medication abroad, which according to international law is a crime against humanity.
It also resorted to the targeting of Somaliland citizens in the areas controlled by the Mogadishu government, including those who have been killed, arrested, tortured and intimidated.
The Council of Ministers, after having a lengthy deliberation decided that:-
- The Republic of Somaliland has been enjoying peace since it regained its independence and having good relations with the neighboring states, contributing to the peace of the Horn of Africa region and as such beckons the nations to bolster alongside Somaliland the maintenance of the safety and stability of the residents of the Horn.
- The Council of Ministers is calling upon the Somali Government to refrain from further hostilities organized against Somaliland and perpetrations against the citizens of Somaliland who live in the territory under its control which is against procedural governance; it is reminiscent of past genocide and sufferings subjected to the people of Somaliland by past Somali regime, therefore, and as such, the government of the Republic of Somaliland warns that the government of Somalia should refrain from harming those people, some of whom have already been killed and some arrested, a move which may cause long-term negative consequences.
- Since the international community supports the Mogadishu government in terms of security and finances, we call upon them to be more attentive to the plight of the citizens of Somaliland who are being targeted in Mogadishu.
- The government of Somaliland has submitted a complaint against the government of Mogadishu to the concerned judicial and human rights agencies, and calls on these agencies to conduct an international investigation into the killings and executions.
- Since the Republic of Somaliland controls its sea, land and air, it declares to the international community that any agreement entered into by the government of Somalia does not apply to the Republic of Somaliland.
- The government of Somaliland condemns the orders of the government of Mogadishu to disrupt the air traffic that resulted in the near-collision of Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines as confirmed by the pilot of the Qatar Airways and the management of both companies, directives that was given by rogue Mogadishu officials, a move that Somaliland strongly condemns.
- The Council of Ministers is calling on the international community, especially the organizations concerned with the air management, such as ICAO and IATA, to fully communicate with the air management in the Republic of Somaliland.
- The Council of Ministers commends the people of Somaliland for maintaining their nationalism and unity and being alert to anything that harm the nation of Somaliland; similarly the state congratulates the people of Somaliland of/to realizing their mission to be part of the international community since the signing of the MoU by both the governments of Somaliland and Ethiopia.
- The Council of Ministers strongly warns anyone against spreading and promoting the wayward plots and traps of the enemy against the people of the Republic of Somaliland, verbally, physically and in writing.
On the other hand, the Council of Ministers approved by majority vote the draft of the Bank’s Real Estate Mortgage Act No. XX/2023 prepared by the Attorney General and the Governor of the national Central Bank that was previously distributed to them and upon lengthy deliberations.