Hargeisa, May 5, 2013 (SDN) – Somaliland president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo, has returned to Hargeisa on today after a four-week trip overseas. President Silanyo was warmly received at Egal International Airport in Hargeisa by vice president Zaylici, cabinet ministers, lawmakers and hundrends of Hargeisa residents. President Silanyo has told the BBC Somali Service that his overseas trip was successful. “We visited Turkey, the U.K., the U.S., and Ethiopia and had discussions with officials in those countries regarding our [Somaliland] national interests,” said President Silanyo, who returned to Hargeisa since departing on April 8, 2013. President Silanyo also said in his interview with the BBC: “The world has not recognized Somaliland as an independent country, however, the world deals with us [Somaliland], invites us, visits us, invests in Somaliland. We took the opportunity to explain Somaliland’s struggle for independence, our accomplishments in security and development, and our people’s aspirations.” Continuing, President Silanyo told the BBC that it is “important for Somaliland to maintain its peace and unity, because the world respects us for our peace and democracy”. On April 13, 2013, the Turkish government hosted Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and, and representatives of the two parties signed the Ankara Agreement, which called for continued dialogue between the Somali federal government and Somaliland government.
In London, President Silanyo met with British Prime Minister David Cameron, but Silanyo declined to attend the London Conference II for Somalia being co-hosted by Prime Minister Cameron of UK and President Hassan of Somalia.
By: Eng. Abdirisak Ismail Qalinle (Itaqile)
SDN News Desk Hargeisa
