Sunday June 14, 2020
NAIROBI (HOL) - Talks in Djibouti between the leaders of Somalia and Somaliland have in the last hour kicked off in Djibouti about four years since similar talks failed to commence in Turkey.
Sources privy to the talks have intimated to HOL Somaliland has set straight its condition for the talks- recognition and acknowledgement of the Berbera Port Concession granted to UAE’s DP-World.
The $442 million 30-year concession is considered by Somaliland a critical infrastructure upgrade set to become the region’s sole flagship development project.
The talks chaired by Djibouti’s Omar Guelleh bring together Somali President Mohamed Farmaajo who joins the talks with his Prime Minister Hassan Khaire and a number of Ministers on the one side and Somaliland’s Muse Bihi and a delegation from Hargeisa.
Djibouti Foreign Affairs Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf has termed the talks ‘historic’. “A historic summit is right now taking place under the chairmanship of President Guelleh to resume dialogue between Somaliland and Somalia.
Prime minister Abiy and Presidents Farmajo and Bihi are writing history together indeed,” said Youssouf.
More to follow.