Somaliland leader speaks about proposed visit by Farmajo to Hargeisa

[Deeq A.]

Somaliland leader, Mise Abdi Bihi has lauded President Mohamed Farmaajo’s move to apologize to Somaliland over atrocities committed by Mohamed Siyad Barre’s regime in 19980s.

Addressing both houses of Somaliland, Bihi said the move by president will promote peace and brotherhood between the sides.

“We welcome the apology by president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and this good step towards peace,” Bihi said.

Bihi also detailed about his trip to Addis Ababa saying he visited Ethiopia after he was invited by prime minister Abiy Ahmed.

He said he met with African leaders to discuss over issues related to Somaliland’s development.

The development comes barely three days after Somali government for first time in over four decades extended apology to Somaliland people over alleged atrocities.

Siyad Barre’s regime was said to have committed massacre which claimed lives of over thousands of people in 1980s.

Barre’s regime reportedly killed people esmated to be people between 50,000 and 100,000.

Last week president Farmajo and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi in Addis Ababa town of Ethiopia but it is yet unclear what they discussed.

Since 2014, when Federal Government of Somalia and Somaliland signed accord following three-day talks moderated by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the authorities in Somalia have been trying to resolve the concerns of Somaliland leaders.

The sides agreed in 2014 that they continue the talks facilitated by Turkey but months later Somaliland rescinded its decision and accused Turkey of supporting Somalia against Somaliland.

It is six years down the line since Somalia, and Somaliland talks brokered by Turkey had collapsed with no tangible progress reached following intransigence by the sides.

Somaliland, a former British protectorate proclaimed independence from the rest of Somalia after the collapse of the central government collapsed in 1991.

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