Tuesday, 23 December 2008
By Moha Dahir Farah Jire
HARGEISA-Somaliland – For the first time, Government officials have made a clear statement about the recent terror attacks that rocked Hargeisa.
The minister of interior, Mr. Abdilahi Ismail Ali, said: "It was a long investigation, but we wanted to prove what we have got. We have all the proofs and will soon bring it to court.
"It’s Al Shabaab who caused the most damage. We have got evidence of their previous plots that the government prevented from happening, but thanks to Allah, now we are again awake and know the steps to be taken to prevent such incidents affecting Somaliland’s democratization process and the long peace we have enjoyed."
In related news, a delegation from Somaliland went to East African countries to protest the UN’s security level evaluation of Somaliland.
The delegation was led Mr.Abdilahi M. Duale, the foreign affairs minister, who was accompanied by the planning minister, Mr. Sanyare. They will have one on one talks with all UN officials in Nairobi to discuss the level four given to Somaliland after the terror incident.
They have suggested Somaliland does not deserve pressure from friends, or any one.
Mr. Abdilahi M. Duale said: "We were suffering for a long time without considerations from the world, but even if we got terror attacks from world’s enemy, Alshabaab, there is no reason to be given hard time by the UN."
He added he will have diplomatic discussions with Ahmedu Walad Abdallah, the special envoy to Somaliland and Somalia for the United Nations: "He was a friend of ours and we held talks with him in Hargeisa, but we do not yet understand the reason he didn’t show his sympathy after the incident.
"We are wondering actually why H.E .Ahmdu is ignoring Somaliland: A friend in need is a friend indeed.
"We will always keep in heart those who share the problem of terror by moral or by practical means and will always feel proud of them.
"We do not deserve to be abandoned by our African brothers, either by governments or the United Nations, so we will sit with them and discuss in order to understand more about our real friends.
The current situation in Somaliland is calm, people are more aware and evaluating every step taken by anyone, and are also preparing and planning for the registration of voters.
The National Electoral Commission announced it is starting again on December 1 in Hargiesa, the biggest region of Somaliland. Registration was delayed for almost a month for security reasons.
December 02, 2008
