Ibro
When you want to fool the world, tell the truth.
Following Uhuru Kenyatta's lead, Djibouti's head of state is using Somaliland as leverage to damage Farmajo's reputation.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit on 20 December in Djibouti created divisions rather than bringing countries together, as was initially intended. Following in Uhuru Kenyatta's steps (Africa Intelligence, 21/12/20), Djibouti's head of state Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (IOG) openly showed his distrust of Somalian president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, aka Farmajo. Kenyatta and IOG met privately during the summit to discuss what they could do to prevent Farmajo's re-election.
According to our information, the two men agreed to continue using Somaliland as leverage to discredit Farmajo locally and internationally. However, they are not prepared to go so far as to officially recognise the self-proclaimed independent state that seceded in 1991.
"Our two countries"
This agreement led IOG to roll out the red carpet in Djibouti just three days following the summit for Somaliland president Musa Bihi Abdi and his minister of foreign affairs Yacin Hadj Mahamoud, who stayed for an entire week. On 31 December, Bihi chose to return to Hargeisa by car rather than by plane. This allowed Djibouti to stage a grand and stately border reopening with Somaliland, attended by Djibouti's minister of agriculture Mohamed Ahmed Awaleh and its chief of police Abdillahi Abdi Farah.
Though Somaliland has not been officially recognised by any African state, Abdillahi Abdi used the words "our two countries" during his speech at the border reopening. Upon his return to Hargeisa, Bihi sang IOG's praises in a speech broadcast on national television.
Diplomatic uproar
Over the last few months, regional tensions have been crystallising around the upcoming presidential election in Somalia (Africa Intelligence, 05/01/21). On 20 December, while IOG and Kenyatta were discussing Farmajo, the latter was meeting with his ally, Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed Ali (Africa Intelligence, 16/11/20). Farmajo can also count on the support of Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki, also a long-time enemy of IOG.
Link: https://www.africaintelligence.com/...omalian-president-s-re-election,109632630-ar1
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit on 20 December in Djibouti created divisions rather than bringing countries together, as was initially intended. Following in Uhuru Kenyatta's steps (Africa Intelligence, 21/12/20), Djibouti's head of state Ismaïl Omar Guelleh (IOG) openly showed his distrust of Somalian president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, aka Farmajo. Kenyatta and IOG met privately during the summit to discuss what they could do to prevent Farmajo's re-election.
According to our information, the two men agreed to continue using Somaliland as leverage to discredit Farmajo locally and internationally. However, they are not prepared to go so far as to officially recognise the self-proclaimed independent state that seceded in 1991.
"Our two countries"
This agreement led IOG to roll out the red carpet in Djibouti just three days following the summit for Somaliland president Musa Bihi Abdi and his minister of foreign affairs Yacin Hadj Mahamoud, who stayed for an entire week. On 31 December, Bihi chose to return to Hargeisa by car rather than by plane. This allowed Djibouti to stage a grand and stately border reopening with Somaliland, attended by Djibouti's minister of agriculture Mohamed Ahmed Awaleh and its chief of police Abdillahi Abdi Farah.
Though Somaliland has not been officially recognised by any African state, Abdillahi Abdi used the words "our two countries" during his speech at the border reopening. Upon his return to Hargeisa, Bihi sang IOG's praises in a speech broadcast on national television.
Diplomatic uproar
Over the last few months, regional tensions have been crystallising around the upcoming presidential election in Somalia (Africa Intelligence, 05/01/21). On 20 December, while IOG and Kenyatta were discussing Farmajo, the latter was meeting with his ally, Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed Ali (Africa Intelligence, 16/11/20). Farmajo can also count on the support of Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki, also a long-time enemy of IOG.
Link: https://www.africaintelligence.com/...omalian-president-s-re-election,109632630-ar1