Former Somaliland President, Muse Bihi Abdi, has responded to a recent statement by Somaliland President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Cirro), who said that Bihi had previously said that he had received recognition from countries, but had not brought recognition, and called on him to support efforts to seek recognition for Somaliland, just as he supported the day Israel recognized Somaliland.
In a post on his Facebook page, Bihi said that he had never said that he had received official recognition from Guinea Conakry and Ethiopia. He accused President Cirro of misinterpreting his previous statements, adding that his position has always been that Somaliland needs international recognition, but major decisions in this regard deserve to be deeply examined.
Bihi also recalled his statement on the day Israel announced the recognition of Somaliland, saying that he welcomed the move and called for its various aspects to be carefully examined. He said he did not expect Israel to recognize Somaliland, but he still believes that recognition is Somaliland’s top priority.
Israel’s recognition and the opening of the Somaliland embassy in Jerusalem have sparked political debate among Somaliland politicians in recent weeks. Some have described it as an important diplomatic opportunity that will boost recognition efforts, while others have expressed concerns about the impact it could have on Somaliland’s relations with Islamic countries and the region.
In his statement, Bihi also criticized the way President Cirro has handled his foreign trips. He said that Cirro admitted to having previously visited Israel in secret, questioning why the trip was hidden from the public and media.
He also pointed out that the President’s delegation and ministers were in different countries during the last foreign trip, questioning the reason for the secrecy and division.
President Cirro has yet to directly respond to the new accusations against Muse Bihi. These exchanges come as the debate over relations between Somaliland and Israel remains highly contentious within Somaliland and across the Horn of Africa.
