State reveals legalizing MoU agreement with Ethiopia is imminent
By M.A. Egge
The government of the Republic of Somaliland has ordered the official closure of the Hargeisa Cultural Library of the Egyptian government in the capital of Somaliland, Hargeisa.
The government also announced that the memorandum of understanding deal signed between the Republic of Somaliland and the federal government of Ethiopia has been successfully finalized and that a formal legal treaty is imminent.
The revelations were made by the Foreign minister Hon. Dr. Issa Keyd Mohamoud.
He was categorical that, “The only remaining thing on the MoU is to formally treatise the agreement”.
On the government’s decision to close the Egyptian Cultural Library in Hargeisa the minister stated, “Today I am announcing a decision by the government of the Republic of Somaliland in closing the Cultural Library of Egypt, which is located in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland”.
He said further, “The government of Somaliland has identified security concerns that pose a threat to the nation, so the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has decided that it is necessary to permanently close the Cultural Library of Egypt, and that the staffers are ordered to leave the country within 72 hours”.
The minister said that the decision was not an easy one to make but the safety of the citizens of Somaliland as paramount.
He said, “This decision is not easy, but the safety of our citizens is an important national responsibility”.
“We know that Egypt has weapons shipped to the government of Mogadishu which we believe is harmful to the security and stability of the country, so we have decided to expel the purported librarians from the country whom we believe to be with sinister motives”.
Minister Isse Keyd said that the government of the Republic of Somaliland has written an official letter to the government of Egypt, informing them of this decision.
In this regard, the ministry has informed the relevant agencies including the Immigration department and the Somaliland National Intelligence Agency to monitor the closure of the Library in a safe manner and the expulsion of the called librarians from the country.
The minister however pointed out, “Much as the Government of the Republic of Somaliland is committed to continue its friendly relations with the Arab Republic of Egypt, the safety of the citizens and security concerns of the country is of great importance hence we believe that this decision is in the interest of the country and region as a whole.”
He cautioned that as far as safeguarding the stability and security of the nation was concerned the government will take any measures to maintain it at all times from any violators.
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian government on Tuesday presented its achievements in the year 2016 in the Ethiopian edition which prominently had the picture of the President of Somaliland H.E. Musa Bihi Abdi and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali during the signing of the agreement.
He had announced through his X handle that the memorandum of understanding deal signed between the Republic of Somaliland and the federal government of Ethiopia has been successfully finalized and that a formal legal treaty is imminent.