His Excellency the Republic of Somaliland Minister of Information and Culture, Osman Abdullahi Sahardid ‘Addani” – the official spokesperson for the government, stated, Saturday, that the President, H.E. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud “Siilaanyo”, extends blanket amnesty to Somaliland-born ‘politicians’ and ‘traditional leaders’ in Somalia, following an appeal on their part to their homeland to help them move back home with dignity.
The so-called politicians had hitherto been on a treason list in Somaliland as they have sided with an arch-enemy, Somalia, that still blindly denies the Republic of Somaliland’s right to self-determination and the restoration of an independence which preceded that of Somalia by five days in which the international community recognized it as a sovereign country.
“Thank God that our brethren in Somalia, who had hitherto believed in an impossible union with Somalia, have now realized how poorly they are rated in Mogadishu,” he said.
The Minister went on to touch on milestones that have decided the restoration of an independence which Somaliland has lost to Somalia before, among which were the failed coup by Somaliland-born army officers in 1963, and the all-clan proclamation of sovereignty in 1991, following a protracted civil war against the dictatorial, military regime and the loss of more than 100 000 Somalilander lives.
“This government, led by by H.E. President Siilaanyo, will help you with lorry- or airfare, as you wish,” he said, adding that the government extends them full pardon without any conditions attached as long as they follow up on their ‘distress’ call.
Somaliland-born politicians, ironically, were put off by how Somalia was continually driving home its inferior rating of Somalilanders who moved over to Mogadishu to, primarily, satidy interest drives.
It remains to be seen whether the pardoned politicians, at the head of whom is the assistant prime minister, Mohamed Omar Arteh, will take advantage of it to wipe their ‘treason’ labels off their records and persona.
