Reliable reports confirm that Saudi Arabia is embarked on a well coordinated diplomatic leverage to establish close bilateral ties with Somaliland.
It is reported that a senior Saudi government official is currently in Somaliland headed by Major General Ahmed Hasan Mohamed Asari, a senior adviser of Saudi defense minister and deputy head of Saudi Intelligence.
Mr. Ahmed also is the spokesman of the coalition forces led by Saudi Arabia which is engaged with skirmishes with Yemeni Houthis. The Somaliland government has declined to disclose information on the arrival of Amiri in the country where he was warmly welcome in the presidential palace. Somaliland’s opposition politician who denounced his federalism doctrine, Hon. Ismail Mohamud Hure alias “Bubaa” speaking on Saudi Arabia getting closer to establish ties with Somaliland has welcomed if the Kingdom establishes ties with SL. Mr. Bubaa has said that Somaliland should not let this golden chance to go by as the regional is experiencing a political change. Mr. Ismail has suggested that Somaliland needs to change its policies and to get used to the new political reforms that have taken place in the Horn. He further downplayed President Gaas’s visit to Badhan and called on Somaliland to put its focus on Somalia in order to restart the stalled talks with Somalia. Mr. Ismail who served as foreign minister in successive government in Somalia said that Abdiweli Gaas is the underdogs.
The country’s Vice President flanked by ministers, opposition party leader and mayor and deputy mayor of Hargeisa attended a ceremony held in marking Saudi Arabia’s anniversary where Somaliland expatriates living in the Kingdom and who have returned to Hargeisa held the event.
It is now clear that Somaliland is having closer ties with Saudi Arabai as Gulf countries particularly Qatar, an arch rival of Saudis established closer ties with Somalia.