Somaliland: Information Minister Criticizes UCID Leader over Meeting with Somalia President

Hargeisa May 13, 2013 (SDN) –Somaliland’s information minister Abib Diriye Nour has criticized the chairman of the opposition Justice & Welfare Party-UCID Eng. Faisal Ali Warabe over unprecedented meeting he had with Somali president in Birmingham, earlier this week calling it ‘unfortunate’. The minister made these remarks during a press conference he held today in his office, Hargeisa.

Eng. Feisal Ali Warabe who is the chairperson of the opposition political party UCID was caught in camera sharing a drink with the Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and his Foreign minister Ms Fozia Yusuf Haji Aden in Birmingham, UK. “I was amazed and couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the pictures of Mr. Faisal having dinner with the Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and his Foreign minister Ms Fozia Yusuf Haji Aden in Birmingham. Really the meeting created suspicition among Somaliland people and government” minister said during the press conference. The minister also added that UCID chairman has no constitutional right to make meet with Mogadishu administration without the consent of Somaliland government and parliament. “Faisal is known to be a staunch Somaliland nationalist and one of the Somaliland negotiation team in Ankara talks between Somaliland and Somalia in last month. And it’s unfortunate thing to see Faisal meeting with Mogadishu administration without the consent of Somaliland people, because Faisal has no constitutional mandate to meet with Somali federal government officials and contact with Somalia officials is illegal unless sanctioned by the administration and parliament.” The minister also added. Virtually, Faisal seems to have made a big about-turn in his political convictions through this meeting that also puts in place legal hurdles for him back home. The hurdles for Feisal shall emanate from constitution al tenets that stipulate that contact with Somalia officials is illegal unless sanctioned by the administration and parliament. On the other hand Somaliland government has in the recent past embarked on stringent measures against Somalilanders who hold Unionism sympathies. Earlier this year a Somalia member of parliament Jama Ahmed Mahmud was charged in a Hargeisa court of law after he was arrested in his ancestral town of Gabiley. King Rabi a prominent traditional leader is currently serving a two years sentence in Mandera maximum prison, having been convicted of association with the Mogadishu administration.

Meanwhile, UCID party leader has denied that he had no political discussion with Mogadishu administrators during a telephone interview he gave to Horn of Africa (Geeska Afrika) daily Somali newspaper on Sunday. “The meeting was just only greeting and we didn’t discuss any political issue regarding Somaliland and Somalia” Faisal said during his telephone interview with Horn of Africa (Geeska Afrika) daily newspaper. Still, there is no comment about the meeting and the discussed issue from the Mogadishu administration.

By: Eng. Abdirisak Ismail Qalinle (Itaqile)

SDN News Desk Hargeisa