(28-12-23) DJIBOUTI (Halqabsi News) — The Presidents of Somalia and Somaliland convened for a meeting on Thursday in Djibouti, facilitated by the country’s President, Ismail Omar Gueleh. This marks the second occasion where Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi have met, signalling a potential thaw in relations between the two regions.
The gathering, aimed at restarting dialogue after a prolonged suspension, was also attended by President Gueleh, indicating Djibouti’s active role in regional diplomacy. The meeting is seen as a preliminary step in addressing the longstanding issues that have divided Somalia and Somaliland.
Leading the Somali delegation, President Mohamud was accompanied by key government officials, including Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Minister of Internal Affairs; Jibril Abdirashid, Minister of Commerce; and Abdikarim Hussein Guled, the Special Envoy for the Federal Government of Somalia to Somaliland.
The Somaliland delegation, headed by President Abdi, included prominent ministers such as Dr. Saad Ali Shire of Finance Development, Ahmed Mohamed Diriye of Planning and National Development, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed of Interior Affairs, Ahmed Adan Buxane of Education and Science, and Edna Adan Ismail, the Special Envoy for the dialogue between Somaliland and Somalia.
President Gueleh’s involvement in the coordination and organization of this meeting highlights his diplomatic influence and his close relationship with both leaders. His role is further emphasized by his current position as the Chairman of the IGAD Regional Organization.
The two presidents had previously met in Djibouti last year at the wedding of MP Saadaq Joon and Haibado Ismail Omar Gueleh, the daughter of Djibouti’s president. However, today’s meeting represents a more formal and structured approach to resolving the differences between Somalia and Somaliland.
Halqabsi News
