His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi, yesterday received at the presidential complex a voluntary mediation delegation led by the Speaker of the House of Elders.
The President was accompanied by the vice president of the Republic of Somaliland, Hon. Abdirahman Abdullahi Ismail (Saylici) along with a number of high gov’t officials. The focus of the meeting was how to remove the political turmoil and conflict between the opposition parties and the government.
Prior to the start, President Bihi welcomed the delegation and expressed that his national responsibility and determination command him to work for the national interests of the country, and as such, he is ready to loot his side of the cord and give importance to anything that will bring the political parties closer.
The Speaker of the House of Elders, Mr. Saleban Mohamud Aden, first requested off President Bihi for the release of the opposition members who were arrested in the recent protest riots in Hargeisa to which the President agreed to.
After a long discussion that lasted for hours, the following two points were adopted in order to reach a full understanding, and create an environment that can lead to convergence and agreement:
- To release all the members of the opposition who were recently arrested through the legal system of the country, which means that the police have to withdraw the charges against them completely, so that the Marodi-Jeh District Court can restore their freedom.
- That the Speaker of the House of Elders, who is leading the voluntary mediation delegation, bring together tomorrow the President of the Republic and the leaders of the leaders of the two opposition parties, UCID and WADDANI, so that the formal discussions can begin.
Finally, speaking on behalf of the mediation group, Garad Jama Garad Ismail Duaale, thanked the president for the privilege of addressing him for the second day and for accepting the proposals from their side and the conclusions of today’s meeting.
