Waddani’s Irro calls for resignation of Bihi, prosecution of Silanyo for ‘betrayal’

Former Somaliland speaker Abdirahman Irro has called for the resignation of President Muse Bihi and prosecution of his predecessor Ahmed Silanyo for what he termed as betrayal of the ‘nation’.

Irro who vied on Waddani party ticket and lost to Bihi during the November presidential elections said both Bihi and Silanyo betrayed Somaliland by not signing the Berbera deals following revelations by UAE state minister for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash that former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed the memorandum of understand on behalf Somaliland.

Irro did was not specific on which agreements but only referred to them as Berbera agreements. Somaliland has since signed Berbera Port deal with UAE’s DP World and the Berbera Naval Base pact with the Emirati government.

“Silanyo violated the constitution and must be prosecuted and Bihi was party to this since he was also in Kulmiye party,” said Irro. “Bihi must resign and seek forgiveness from the people or we shall sue him.”

Waddani had strongly opposed the naval base agreement and voted against last year.

In an interview with BBC Somali Wednesday, Gargash said both UAE and former Somalia administration (Hassan Sheikh Mohamdu) signed a development and humanitarian support agreeement for Somaliland. “We had a memorandum of understanding with the former government and it was very clear,” said Gargash. “We did not have a consulate or embassy in Somaliland so there was no formal relationship.”

Somaliland has however maintained agreements with UAE were sanctioned by its government.