-Finland government welcomes the NPC and pledges support
-Promises to step up bilateral relations with Somaliland
By M.A. Egge
The government of Finland welcomes the establishment of the Somaliland National Peace Commission (NPC) and announced that it is ready to work with the country on peace and mediation in the conflicts in the Eastern Sool and Erigavo regions.
Similarly, the Finnish Peace Envoy said that his country is ready to work with Somaliland on issues of development, good governance, improving health services, education, justice and prison services, etc
This was revealed during a meeting that a delegation led by the Special Representative of the Republic of Finland for Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Horn of Africa Mr. Sultan Said Ahmed that included the Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland for East and Southern Africa Mr. Jukka Pajerinen visited the President of the Republic of Somaliland H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillhi Irro at the Presidency on Monday evening.
According to press release by the Presidential Spokesman Hussein Adam Ige, the Head of State once again reiterated his government’s conviction of addressing conflicts by resolving them through peaceful means; and that the Somaliland Government remains committed to a lasting solution and consensus to end the current conflicts.
The press release noted, “In welcoming remarks and expressing gratitude for the assistance provided by Finland to Somaliland in terms of post-development, the President of the Republic of Somaliland told the Finnish delegation that Somaliland is a country with experience and expertise in conflict resolution and peace building for over 34 years, and that Somaliland is ready to work with anyone on issues of peace and stability in the Horn of Africa region in general, especially in Erigavo District and eastern Sool Region.
“The President told the Delegation that on the day he was sworn in (12.12.2024) he called for an unconditional peace process, and that the Somaliland Government remains committed to a lasting solution and consensus to end the current conflicts.
“He underscored the fact that Somaliland is a country known for peace, stability, democracy, the rule of law and the respect for human rights and that the Somaliland Government is not at war with its own people, but that perpetrators unfortunately waged attacks on the government barely two days after he was sworn into office (14.12.2024 /Erigavo).
“The Head of State said that Somaliland is ready to work with the International Community in many areas, especially in cooperation and collaboration on security and stability in the Horn of Africa Region.
“He requested the Finnish delegation to support the country in improving and reforming the services necessary such as health services, higher education and modernization of the tax system, since Finland is the leading country in the world in these services.
“The delegation led by the Special Representative of the Republic of Finland for Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Horn of Africa Mr. Sultan Said Ahmed also commended the Republic of Somaliland for the elections held in Somaliland in November 2024 given the mature democracy that has emerged in Somaliland and the civilized way in which it was handed over.
“The Finnish Peace Envoy also commended the President for the establishment of the Peace Commission that the President recently appointed, stating that this issue was very much welcomed in his country, and that they are ready to support the Peace Commission.
“The envoy said that his country is ready to work with Somaliland on peace and mediation in the conflicts in the Eastern Sool and Erigavo regions.
“Similarly, the Finnish Peace Envoy said that his country is ready to work with Somaliland on issues of development, good governance, improving health services, education, justice and prison services, etc.
“The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency, for their part, thanked the Finnish delegation for their visit to Somaliland, underscoring the fact that Somaliland is a country that can be trusted in every aspect, and that it is time for the international community to become aware of the good and progress that has been achieved in Somaliland.
“The Minister of the Presidency requested Finland to support Somaliland in bolstering youth development in terms of youth employment and associated fields of creativity and sports”. END .