Former Finance Minister Awil On New Somalia Govt.
Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:51 pm
Hargeisa - The former Somaliland minister of Finance, Hussein Haji Ali Dualeh has remarked on the composition of the new government of Somalia which includes members who originally hail from Somaliland, most notably Fowzia Yusuf Haji Aden, the nominated new Foreign minister and deputy-premier.
Speaking to the media, former minister Awil stated " We should not occupy ourselves with the new government of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Somalia, and who is in and who is out. The issue is not whether some people from Somaliland are in that government, but, to convince our brothers and sisters in Somalia, that Somaliland's independence and sovereignty will only benefit Somalia and the rest of the region".
There has been fierce debate within Somaliland that the proposed talks between Somaliland and Somalia are in jeopardy due the continued appointment of Somalilanders in the governments of Somalia. One point of view is that these appointees neither represent the people of Somaliland and their wishes, and are merely people who are out for themselves.
Whilst other argue that it treason to join any new entity in Somalia, and the new government of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's attempt to cause conflict within Somaliland by insisting on selecting Somalilanders makes any future talks null and void.
But, former minister Awil doesn't see it that way, he continued " This issue is a side-show. Somaliland has a legitimately elected government. We will take part in any talks with Somalia on a government to government basis, not a minister to minister. We are way ahead of Somalia in terms of stability, democracy, governance, progress, so on. It is, therefore, important that we prepare for future talks and have our most able and patriotic people at the table to argue Somaliland's case".
Speaking to the media, former minister Awil stated " We should not occupy ourselves with the new government of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Somalia, and who is in and who is out. The issue is not whether some people from Somaliland are in that government, but, to convince our brothers and sisters in Somalia, that Somaliland's independence and sovereignty will only benefit Somalia and the rest of the region".
There has been fierce debate within Somaliland that the proposed talks between Somaliland and Somalia are in jeopardy due the continued appointment of Somalilanders in the governments of Somalia. One point of view is that these appointees neither represent the people of Somaliland and their wishes, and are merely people who are out for themselves.
Whilst other argue that it treason to join any new entity in Somalia, and the new government of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's attempt to cause conflict within Somaliland by insisting on selecting Somalilanders makes any future talks null and void.
But, former minister Awil doesn't see it that way, he continued " This issue is a side-show. Somaliland has a legitimately elected government. We will take part in any talks with Somalia on a government to government basis, not a minister to minister. We are way ahead of Somalia in terms of stability, democracy, governance, progress, so on. It is, therefore, important that we prepare for future talks and have our most able and patriotic people at the table to argue Somaliland's case".
