The Somaliland delegation that left for Turkey for the latest leg of the on-going talks between Somaliland ans Somalia returned to Hargeisa, today, to an unprecedented heroes’ welcome.
Members of the public, school children, members of the armed forces, the police music bands and almost everybody along the way from the airport to the presidential palace turned out in full patriotic regalia to welcome the heroes home.
Heroes? Yes in the sense that the delegation members proved to Somalia and the world that the sovereignty of Somaliland and everything leading to it was close to every Somalilander’s heart, and that the puerile jokes Somalia was playing on itself, the on-looking international community and the spirit of the talks did neither escape the Somalilander delegation nor was the delegation amused by monkey tactics Mogadishu was playing on everybody’s expenses.
Upon arrival, the delegation leader briefed the press on why they refused to sit with Somalilander turncoats that Mogadishu sent to the talks to make it appear that a Federal government was hammering sense into an errant regional administration’s obdurate head.
Somalia was in breach of all that the talks stood for as well as the content and letter of afore-conducted meetings and decisions reached, including the non-inclusion of Somaliland-born ‘workers’ in Mogadishu to represent the Italian Somalia of 1960.
The delegation members alighted from their cars and walked on foot among the excited crowds shouting encouragement and nationalistic slogans at the city center.
Some of the people lining the streets on the ten-mile long way from the airport were there witheir colorful flags and banners since midday until arounf five p.m. when the delegation started driving towards the city center.
Some of the thousands of banners and slogans the crowds held aloft or were waving read: “never again!” “Never to go astray again!” “Long live to Somaliland soverignty!” ” we are with you all the way!” “No decisions lie with an immigrant!” A barb aiming at the Somaliland-born traitors Mogadishu sent to the talks to abort them.
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