Irresponsible Government officials Attack Donald Payne as “Enemy of Somaliland”

Irresponsible Government officials Attack Donald Payne as "Enemy of Somaliland"

HARGEISA, Somaliland (Somaliland Globe)- The Secretary General of Somaliland's ruling party, Jama Yassin Farah, said on Sunday the opposition KULMIYE party leader, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo should not be welcomed because of his meeting with Congressman Donald Payne whom he described as "enemy of Somaliland".

Mr. Farah who is famously referred to as Jug-soo-dhacay (He-Who-Landed-With-a-Thud), have made the crude remarks while on a visit to Erigavo, the regional capital of Sanag. He lambasted the Congressman by calling the state- controlled Radio Hargeisa to say that "the man [Silanyo] who shook hands with Somaliland's enemy should not be welcomed"on his return from the United States.

Earlier, a junior Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Adan Ismail, made a similar remarks about the Congressman by describing him as "enemy of Somaliland", which drew angry reactions from senior figures of the opposition parties. The Vice Minister also said Silanyo should not be allowed to return back to Somaliland unless he is granted amnesty by the government [president] because of his meeting with Donald Payne.

On Sunday, thousands of KULMIYE supporters turn out in show of force to welcome their hero, Ahmed Silanyo, with open hands. It was a clear testimony that the public were "astounded" and "disgusted" by the remarks made by senior government officials about Silanyo and the Congressman.

"I am greatly pleased the warm reception I have received from the thousands of people who have gathered here today. I have been working hard to promote

Somaliland's quest for recognition as an independent and sovereign state," said Silanyo

"Donald Payne is the only US Congressman who came to Somaliland. He is not an enemy of Somaliland. On the contrary he is a friend of Somaliland," added Silanyo

The KULMIYE leader, Ahmed Silanyo, went to the United States in early January for a short visit where he met with Donald Payne, Congressman from New Jersey who is also Chairman Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health.

Rayale's government had rejected to participate in a meeting on Somalia arranged by the Congressman last year. The Somaliland foreign minister, Abdillahi Duale, initially accepted the invitation but later rejected to be part of the panel with the president of Puntland and the TFG. The Somaliland government requested for a separate panel.

The Subcommitte found that arrangement unacceptable and defeats the purpose of the hearing.

Somaliland, a former British protectorate, got its independence from Britain on 26 June 1961 and entered an unratified union with Italian administered Somalia in July 1960. Somaliland had remained this unratified union with Somalia for more than 30 years.

On 18 May 2009, the self declared republic of Somaliland marked 18 years since it proclaimed independence from Somalia. Although its sovereignty is still unrecognised by any country, the fact that it is a viable, functioning constitutional democracy distinguishes it from Somalia.

Somaliland Globe