Somaliland’s Minister of Interior, Abdalle Mohamed Arab (Sandheere), said that the Federal Government of Somalia tried to prevent the arrival of former MP Fahiima Yusuf Abdillaahi (Quuje) in Somaliland, accusing her of even attempting to kidnap her while she was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Minister Sandheere said that the Somali government had made great efforts to prevent Fahiima Quuje from reaching Hargeisa. He said that Somaliland had information indicating that an attempt had been made to kidnap her, although he did not provide further evidence to confirm this.
“The Somali government made efforts to prevent Fahiima from coming here. We even have information that she tried to kidnap her, and it is not shameful and it is the tradition of the Hassan Sheikh administration in Mogadishu,” the minister said. He added that Somaliland has Fahiima’s birth certificate, describing her as a Somaliland citizen.
The minister also said that Fahiima Quuje’s return has political and social significance, noting that she has reversed her previous stance and deserves to be welcomed back to Somaliland with dignity.
He said that Somaliland has previously experienced civil strife but the society has achieved reconciliation, noting that Fahiima’s case is no different from that process. He added that she and the Lascaanod community are Somaliland people.
The minister’s statement comes days after Fahiima Quuje announced that she had abandoned the Somaliweyn vision and returned to supporting the Somaliland cause, and she is returning to Hargeisa today.
