Tag: Somalia

Will Rep Ilhan Omer Survive after Badmouthing Somaliland People

Will Rep Ilhan Omer Survive after Badmouthing Somaliland People

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is being accused of ‘treason’ and calls to be removed from Congress she faces fierce opposition for a speech where she unapologetically declared she is ‘Somalia first.’ Continue reading “Will Rep Ilhan Omer Survive after Badmouthing Somaliland People”

Controversial US Rep Ilhan Omar Sowing Hatred in America

Controversial US Rep Ilhan Omar Sowing Hatred in America

Ilhan Omar, a Somali American political figure, has recently ignited controversy with her remarks on particularly Somaliland Diaspora in America and in general the Somaliland people around the globe. Continue reading “Controversial US Rep Ilhan Omar Sowing Hatred in America”

US Rep Ilhan Omar Denounces Somaliland’s MoU with Ethiopia

US Rep Ilhan Omar Denounces Somaliland's MoU with Ethiopia

Ilhan Omer is a woman from Southern Somalia who became an American citizen and serves as a representative in the US House for a Minnesota district that is home to a sizable Somali diaspora population.

She traveled to Puntland State in December 2022, where she was born, and the capital of Mogadishu in Southern Somalia. She had never even stepped foot in Somaliland Republic, which was once a part of the Somali Republic after uniting with Southern Somalia.

The Horn of Africa’s reality is very representative of and supportive of Somaliland’s democracy, which dates back to 1991, when it unilaterally broke its union with Southern Somalia and reclaimed its independence.

It is astonishing that Representative Ilhan Omer never mentions Somaliland democracy, much less traveled there while on tour in that region of the Horn of Africa. Ilhan’s actions make it abundantly evident that she does not have a strong sense of loyalty to the American political system and that she strongly believes in clan affiliation, which runs counter to the democratic ideals and values that underpin American democracy.

 

 

Ethiopia and Somaliland’s leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Addis Ababa on January 1st, opening the door for Ethiopia to recognize Somaliland in return for access to the Res Sea and the lease of a naval station.

The Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud-led administration in southern Somalia has been furious from day one about this new development. Echoing that sentiment, Southern Somali diaspora in Minneapolis, led by Representative Ilhan Omar, organized a procession and meetings on the 27th of this month to back the president of Somalia’s irrational and emotional responses.

In a multidimensional speech, Ilhan Omar spoke to the community meeting and shared her own views and those sentiments in common with the Southern Somali community.

She opened her address by braising the “Doctrine of Greater Somalia,” which was held during the independence struggles and advocated for the unification of the so-called “Shanta Somaliya or the Five Somalis,”. This kind of thinking runs counter to the UN and African Union charters, as well as the existing internal borders marked out in the Horn of Africa, the African continent, and several other regions of the world.

Ilhan Omar stated that Somalia had to fight for regions that are currently, in her view and that of Southerners, occupied by other nations, referring to the Northern Frontier District (NFD), a Kenyan province, and the Ethiopian Somali state. As a component of what is referred to as Greater Somalia, the representative’s statement also implies that Djibouti should be annexed by Somalia.

In her speech, she indirectly mentioned the MoU between Somaliland and Ethiopia and how she opposes it. When she talked about that deal, without naming Somaliland, she disrespectfully said “those who call or claim themselves to be Somalis” who made an agreement with Ethiopia.

She said that the US government is caving in to the whims and desires of the southern Somali Diaspora, and she is a woman sent to the US House of Representative to represent Somalia, betraying the majority of non-Somali natives who casted their votes to represent them.

 

 

Stated differently, I work as a Somali government lobbyist in the US House of Representatives. She disregarded Joe Biden and said that Hassan Sheikh Muhamoud is her president. She urged that all Somalis should unite in their support of Hassan Sheikh. As if she had authority over Somaliland and Ethiopia, she swore that the Memorandum of Understanding between Somaliland and Ethiopia won’t go through during her term in parliament.

The American Somaliland Diaspora, particularly those at Minnesota State, who supported this representative, ought to attentively listen her recent remarks towards and her animosity for Somaliland. In the same token, the Minnesotans in general should open their eye wide and see who represents their state in the US House of Representatives.

Somalia President will Meet Abiy of Ethiopia in Italy Soon

Somalia President will Meet Abiy of Ethiopia in Italy Soon

Caasimada Online news website said on Saturday that Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed are scheduled to meet on the sidelines during the Italian Summit with African Countries.

Next week is the scheduled date of the summit; eight prime ministers and fifteen presidents have accepted the offer to participate, along with additional African delegates. Among the African leaders who accepted the invitation to the meeting in Italy are Hassan Sheikh of Somalia and Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia.

 

 

The leader of Somalia, whose government has accused Ethiopia of plotting to takeover portions of Somalia, will meet for the first time with Ethiopia since its intention to lease navy base along the Red Sea with Somaliland infuriated them.

According to the news outlet, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will hold the meeting on Sunday night in an effort to defuse the tensions, which experts warn might have serious consequences.

From left: Adem Farah, first vice president, Abiy Ahmed, President, and Temesgen Tiruneh, newly appointed second vice president of the Prosperity Party (PP)

As recently as yesterday, the ruling Prosperity Party (PP), led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, announced that the party has resolved to bring the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that Ethiopia signed with Somaliland “to a practical agreement” while simultaneously paying attention to the principles of give and take to secure additional options to port access with other neighboring countries. This announcement came at the conclusion of four days of meetings by members of both the Executive and the Central Committee.

The Memorandum of Understanding with Somalinad, according to the ruling party, further validates “Ethiopia’s position for regional economic and cultural ties.”

 

 

Thus far, based on political maneuvers, it is evident that PM Abiy and his administration are dedicated to seeing this Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland through, irrespective of regional and international diplomatic pressures.

However, the Somali government had previously stated that talks with Ethiopia would not be possible until Ethiopia canceled its deal with Somaliland, which has not yet occurred.

It’s probable that the president of Somalia would be reminded of historical information regarding the merged nations that formed the Somali Republic in 1960 by a former master, colonizer, and administrator.

President Bihi: “Somali’s President Prefers Perishing Rather Than Witnessing Somaliland Recognition”

President Bihi: “Somali’s President Prefers Perishing Rather Than Witnessing Somaliland Recognition”

In a recent interview with Somaliland National Television, President Muse Bihi Abdi stated that, given the current state of affairs stemming from the Addis Ababa’s Memorandum of Understanding with Continue reading “President Bihi: “Somali’s President Prefers Perishing Rather Than Witnessing Somaliland Recognition””

Somalia’s Empty Rhetoric Couldn’t Stop the Deal Between Somaliland and Ethiopia

Somalia’s Empty Rhetoric Couldn’t Stop the Deal Between Somaliland and Ethiopia

Prior to examining all facets of the Somaliland-Ethiopia deal from various viewpoints, it is important to clarify that Ethiopia possesses the sovereign right to recognize Somaliland. The factors that led Nauru to acknowledge Kosovo in 2008 could perhaps enable Ethiopia to recognize Somaliland. Continue reading “Somalia’s Empty Rhetoric Couldn’t Stop the Deal Between Somaliland and Ethiopia”

EZEMA Hails Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU as ‘Bold Diplomacy”, Consistent with UN Convention

EZEMA Hails Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU as ‘Bold Diplomacy”, Consistent with UN Convention

The Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice party (Ezema) said the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that Ethiopia signed with Somaliland seeking access to the sea, is “a bold diplomatic move” consistent with article 125 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, aiming at mutual benefit with its neighbors. Continue reading “EZEMA Hails Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU as ‘Bold Diplomacy”, Consistent with UN Convention”

International Law and How It Affects Somaliland Republic

International Law and How It Affects Somaliland Republic

International law is a fascinating and complex body of rules that governs relations between states and other entities having an international legal identity. It is sometimes known as public international law or the law of nations. Think of it as a manual for international relations covering a wide range of subjects like: Continue reading “International Law and How It Affects Somaliland Republic”

Ethiopia’s Army Chief Birhanu Hosts his Somaliland Counterpart General Tani

Ethiopia's Army Chief Birhanu Hosts his Somaliland Counterpart Major General Tani

Ethiopia said it held talks Monday on military cooperation with Somaliland, just a week after a deal with Somaliland on sea access stoked tensions in the Horn of Africa. Continue reading “Ethiopia’s Army Chief Birhanu Hosts his Somaliland Counterpart General Tani”