(Medeshi)- Republic of Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed
Mahamoud Silanyo Met with Members of Congress, State Department Officials and
Others, Speaking Publicly about Somaliland’s Achievements
WASHINGTON D.C. –
President of the Republic of Somaliland Ahmed Mohamed Mahamoud Silanyo met in
Washington, D.C. last week with U.S. Administration officials, Members of
Congress and others with a key role or interest in the Horn of Africa.
Before departing Washington, President Silanyo said, “I am
grateful for the enduring partnership between the United States and Somaliland,
and for the friendship that has been extended to our people since the
Administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower. In my meetings at the State
Department—and in consultations with other U.S. government officials and
lawmakers—I offered Somaliland’s experience building democratic and
representative government as a model for expanded stability in the Horn of
Africa. The United States’ commitment to the dual track policy and continued
direct engagement with Hargeisa will encourage the deepening of political ties
between Somaliland and Somalia as the new government in Mogadishu builds a
better future for its people.”
President Silanyo began his visit to the nation’s capital –
the first in this capacity – with a policy address at the Atlantic Council of
the United States. During this address (which can be read here), President Silanyo
spoke frankly about Somaliland’s two decades of progress despite instability in
the region, his government’s renewed engagement with Somalia as that nation
seeks to transition out of conflict, and the need for the United States and the
international community to recognize Somaliland as a sovereign, independent
state. These themes were elaborated upon
in an op ed published in Foreign Policy, “The Safe Haven Next Door”.
Throughout the week, the President held productive meetings
with several senior U.S. Administration officials including Under Secretary of
State Wendy Sherman and Acting Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Donald
Yamamoto; United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy
Administrator Donald Steinberg and Assistant Administrator for Africa Earl W.
Gast; and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Amanda J.
Dory. These discussions advanced a range
of bilateral and regional issues, with a focus on:
expanding cooperation on regional security efforts, especially
with regard to counter-terrorism and anti-piracy initiatives;
establishing mechanisms for increased external assistance to
be provided directly to Somaliland, in order to ensure its effective and
transparent utilization; and
building support for Somaliland’s recognition as an
independent member of the international community.
The visit provided a timely opportunity for President
Silanyo to explain to U.S. officials the purpose of the Republic of
Somaliland’s ongoing dialogue with the government of Somalia – i.e., to clarify
their future relations – and to welcome America’s support and facilitation of
this process as needed. He also noted
the Ankara Communiqué that he signed on April 13th with Somalia’s President
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, which established both a framework for these bilateral
discussions and agreement to encourage and facilitate international aid and
development to Somaliland.
On Capitol Hill, the President met with Members of Congress
interested in Somaliland’s progress and shared his government’s perspective on
recent events in the region, challenges faced by expatriates wishing to send
remittances to their families in Somaliland, and ways to improve security
cooperation and economic assistance. Of
note, House Africa Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Senate Africa
Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and Representatives Gregory
Meeks (D-NY), Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ) welcomed
Somaliland’s contributions to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and
expressed a desire to explore and expand new areas of cooperation.
While in the Washington, D.C. area, President Silanyo and
his delegation also built new relationships with the international business
community. Of note, he attended the
signing ceremony for an oil and gas exploration contract between the Republic
of Somaliland and the Norwegian oil and gas company DNO International (see
press release here). DNO is the third international oil company to acquire
petroleum exploration acreage in Somaliland during the past three years. The delegation was also hosted by the
Business Council for International Understanding, an organization with members
from more than 150 world-leading companies, for a working dinner with over
thirty corporate executives interested in the numerous investment opportunities
available in Somaliland today.
President Silanyo led a delegation that included First Lady
Amina Haji Mahammad Jirde and several top officials, including Minister of
Presidential Affairs Hersi Ali H. Hassan; Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed
Abdullahi Omar; Minister of Mining, Energy & Water Resources Hussein Abdi
Dualeh; Minister of Planning Dr. Sa’ad Ali Shire; State Minister of Finance
Osman Sahardiid; and Peace, Unity, and Development Party Chairman Muuse Biihi
Abdi.
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