Somaliland is a symbol of triumph as concerns progress in development and democracy when compared to other African countries, says Interpeace Chief
By: M.A. Egge
Hargeisa-The Head of State H.E. Ahmed Mohammed Mohamud received the Interpeace director general Mr. Scott. M Weber who paid him a courtesy call at the Presidency over the week.
The Geneva based Interpeace chief was accompanied by his East and Central African representative Mr. Jean Paul Mugiraneza and Somaliland liaison official Mr. Khadar Guleid.
The President welcomed the partnership of good working relations that the Interpeace has had with the country for the past two decades.
He reiterated the state’s adherence to the democratization processes and thanked Interpeace for the help that it has steadfastly availed and given to Somaliland.
The President noted that the administration has had a bottom up mode of indulgence that focused on rebuilding, integration and pacification in juxtaposition to the needs of the nation as per priorities.
“We had to start from grassroots level hence addressed pacification and integration to achieve harmonious setting within the populace”, said the President, and added, “Hence at the same time we had to build capacities and establish good governance for the past 25 years “,-in tandem.
He said that the populace was now a mature one and that efforts were being done on the bolstering of good governance through a dual partnership of the people and their government.
He gave an update of his recent historical pacification tour of the eastern region which will see to it that the democratization process is established in those areas for the first time.
The registration process is presently on-going.
The President reiterated the state’s conviction of seeing to it that just, free and fair elections are held timely and as scheduled come March 2017.
He assured his visitor that the preparations to the cause were at an advance stage whereby the processes were almost complete.
On his part Mr. Weber thanked the President for the reception that his delegation was accorded hence hailed the country’s steadfastness in the democratization process.
“Somaliland is a symbol of triumph as concerns progress in development and democracy when compared to other African countries”, said Mr. Weber who has been visiting the country for the past 16 years.
He pledged that, given the status quo, his organization would continue working with SL for the next five years as they have been doing before.
He said that the international community was contented with the manner the forth coming general elections was being prepared.
The President was an excellent example of a democrat in Africa, noted Mr. Mohammed Farah Hersi at the meeting, when he underscored the importance of the gesture the incumbent President showed when he opted not to defend his seat.
This observation by the Peace and Academy boss prompted Mr. Weber to say, “You deserve an international award for opting to retire at a time the constitution allows you otherwise”.
The President was flanked by Planning minister Hon. Ali Hussein, State Minister for interior Hon. Mohammed Muse, deputy foreign Affairs minister Hon. Ahmed Adan and Presidential Private Secretary Ali Ahmed and Presidential legal advisor Abdirahman Shamah.
As a strategic partner of the United Nations, Interpeace is an independent, international peace-building organization. It was initially established in 1994 by the United Nations to develop innovative solutions to build peace.
It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and has offices in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Brussels, Belgium; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Nairobi, Kenya; New York, USA and Stockholm, Sweden, and supports locally led peace-building initiatives in more than 21 countries in Central America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
As citizens, we are interested in a peaceful transition. The best legacy President Silanyo can give us is to preside over a seamless hand over of power. His recent peacekeeping efforts are a clear demonstration of his intentions. Our founding fathers envisaged a situation where we could all pursue our dreams alongside each other in an enabling environment.
Somaliland always tries to jealously guard its hard-earned peace. Every successive president has achieved a milestone in his own right. All of them have left their foot/fingerprints all over. Notable among this is the aptly-named Egal International Airport. I hope to see or hear a “Silanyo Freeport” in Berbera or a “Silanyo International Conference Centre” someday. In my view, it’ll be a fitting bow and a great sign-off for the incumbent. S/Land hanoolato!
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