The intrigues that led to the rejection of Farmajo’s Abiy-planned visit to Somaliland

Had President Farmajo visited Somaliland, he would not only have made history but also won international acclaim for seeking peace with the breakaway state.

But Radio Dalsan now understands that the political intelligence in Hargeisa warned of subversion, irredentism, and regional tensions.

On 11th February, during an African Union (AU) in Addis, the Capital of Ethiopia, President Muse Bihi of the Republic of Somaliland, a prosperous and peaceful country north of Somalia, met Mohamed Farmaajo of Somalia.

Farmaajo, hard-pressed to explain his desperation about breaking Federal Member States leadership and his obsession with Somaliland asked President Bihi to arrange a state visit for him in Hargeisa, the State Capital of Somaliland, as soon as possible.

Muse did not turn down nor accept the request, instead the shrewd politician told Farmaajo to wait unit he consulted his people back home.

Back home, Bihi’s Political intelligence team listened to the public and policy makers and there was a strong opposition to such a visit.
Farmaajo’s intents are both subversive and political.
Somalilanders are proud of their sociopolitical and economic achievements and allowing Farmaajo visit woukd will reverse gains made over decades.
The East African region fractures and the constant dragging of Ethiopia in its domestic-political agenda hurts Ethiopia’s good stead. Hargeisa doesn’t want to be dragged in Somalia’s divisive electoral politics.

Already there are more anti-Farmaajo sentiments flowing from various quarters including the opposition leaders in Hargeisa.
According to Engineer Faisal Ali Warabe, the leader of opposition in Somaliland, “a President who cannot visit Jubbaland, Puntland, and Galmudug must not be allowed to visit Somaliland”.

Farmaajo had scheduled a visit to Gedo but cancelled it. No one want’s him there too. In Galmudug, political and security upheaval remains at an all-time high after Farmaajo’s interference with the electoral process that saw the imposition of a Pro-Mogadishu leadership, something that didn’t go down well with other dominant sociopolitical players.