Row arises from the comments made by Djibouti Consular in Hargeisa

A Recent speech by Somaliland UCID leader Faisal Ali Warabe developed into a diplomatic row between Somaliland and Djibouti. This started after Faysal Ali Warabe has strongly denounced the Djibouti diplomacy towards Somaliland which angered the Djiboutian Consular in Hargeisa.

The statement from Somaliland’s Justice & Welfare party-UCID chairman, Faisal Ali Waraabe who said that Djibouti’s mediation of the stalled talks between Somalia-Somaliland cannot be a neutral venue. He pointed out that the tiny Horn of African country is arming Somalia, the Somaliland arch-rival, by contributing forces to AMISOM.

The Djiboutian consular to Hargeisa, Mr. Husein Omar Kawaliye, was angered by the comments from the UCID leader.

Mr. Kawalieh in a press conference held in Hargeisa, on Tuesday, responded to the allegations from Faisal Ali Waraabe.

He said that Djibouti and its government have close working cooperation with the Somaliland government and its people led by President Musa Bihi Abdi.

The Consular has indicated that Djibouti and Somaliland share many years of friendship in the areas of security and trade.

He told that there is no direct contact between the Djibouti government  and individual political parties in Somaliland. He said that the verbal attacks from Faisal Ali Warabe which are targeted to the president of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Gelle, have reached a point where Djibouti could not bear with. He reiterated that Djibouti will await the right actions that the Somaliland government will take against UCID chairman. The Consul has urged Faisal to refrain from the constant criticism against the Djiboutian leader. He said that if Faisal fails to stop it then Djibouti will take action against him.

This Djiboutian consular threatening to take action against a Somaliland angered many Somalilanders including politicians, parliamentarians and ordinary citizens.

Mohamoud Ali Suleiman Ramaah, UCID Secretary for Interior Affairs, has responded today to the Djibouti Consular, citing that he has crossed the diplomatic norms by making threats to the National Party leader. Mr Ramaah said that Somaliland Government should expel the Djibouti representative in the country within 48hrs.

Somaliland member of House of Representatives, Ahmed Diriye Na’Na, also described the consular’s speech as a violation of the diplomatic rules and ethics. The MP claimed that Djibouti is our enemy.

Upto now Somaliland government has not commented on the issue, knowingly the close relations between Kulmiye party and the Djiboutian ruler.

Local sources.