Somali President, Lower House Speaker speaks on Somaliland unrest, calls for negotiations

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Lower House Speaker Sheikh Adan Madobe have spoken about the unrest that was experienced in Hargeisa that resulted in deaths and injuries of civilians.

President Hassan Sheikh called on the Bihi government and the Somaliland opposition to find a solution to the infighting between the two sides and agree on a way to end the stalemate through dialogue, warning that the issue brought on by the violence in Hargeisa will not only affect Somaliland, but also all Somalis and the entire Somali region. 

The President also appealed to the Somaliland traditional elders, intellectuals, and political leaders to mediate and defuse animosity between the country’s ruling party and its opposition in order to facilitate meaningful dialogue.

The Speaker of the Lower House, Adan Madobe, also voiced his concerns over the violence that was witnessed over the previous days in the Somaliland State, saying he was saddened by the sudden turn of events in the otherwise peaceful region.

In a Facebook post, Speaker Madobe condoled with the families of those who died in the chaos and prayed for quick recovery for the injured. 

He urged the Somaliland government and the opposition to hold peace talks, warning that they should be “cautious when having conversations that could undermine peace and stability.”

Finally, the Lower House Speaker called on the Somaliland Senate and traditional elders to help calm the situation so that the people can continue to live in peace and stability, noting that “Somaliland is a peaceful, democratic country.”