Hargeisa- SL (Cabays Media) The delegation lead by president Siilaanyo have returned to Hargeisa after spending six days between Dubai and Abu Dhabi for talks with Emirate’s sheikhs.

Briefly speaking to the media at Hargeisa airport, president Siilaanyo and his foreign minister talked about the discussions they had with the U.A.E authority but gave no specific details on the discussed issues apart from generalizing the talks they had in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

“We’v been to Dubai and Abu Dhabi where we met with officials and discussed with our common interest and cooperation between the two countries” Said president Siilaanyo at the brief press conference at Hargeisa Airport’s VIP lounge.

“There were a lot of development projects they promised before and we also discussed new projects” Added president Siilaanyo without mentioning any specific project him and his delegation have discussed with the U.A.E authority.

“We hope that those who are going to spearhead these projects will come to (Somaliland) take them from there” Said president Siilaanyo confirming there will be U.A.E officials coming to Somaliland in order  to implement the unspecified projects the president said he secured from U.A.E. authority.

“We have met with Sheikh Mansour, the minister of presidential affairs (also the deputy prime minister of UA.E) and we discussed our common interest and we hope that this was a successful trip”added president Siilaanyo struggling to recall the name of the country he wanted to talk about what they discussed with.

President Siilaanyo did not mention one single project of the many unnamed projects he said the U.A.E is willing to help with Somaliland and he failed to reveal what the gulf state is gaining from Somaliland in return of the purportedly the millions of Dollars worth projects.

However, foreign minister Mohamed Bihi Yonis who also spoke to the media after president Siilaanyo, elaborated  little bit without speaking about what the U.A.E wants in return of the projects it said it will with help Somaliland.

“As the president mentioned we talked about issue regarding security, developments and economy and we discussed projects already agreed and new major projects we believe will help the country to develop” Said minister Yonis.

“The projects we discussed are relating to water (system), the electricity, schools (education), hospitals and how the refugee influx can be assisted with (Somaliland)” Added minister Yonis who was hesitant to go into details.

“The officials we have met with have greatly welcomed us for the first time and promised that we will have great cooperation, and as you are aware of the spearheading team have already arrived before us and we believe that the trip (to Emirates) was a blessing one” Said Somaliland’s foreign minister, who was little evasive.

Minister Yonis also talked about the discussions they had with Dubai Port World and stressed how different firms are interesting in securing concession on Somaliland’s main Berbera port.

“We also had talks with DP World and there are different firms showing interest for (Berbera port), but as you all are aware of we have hired expert advisory team who are looking at which (company) is more important for us” added minister Yonis who at the end didn’t take any questions from the press.

The P&O plan

President Siilaanyo and his foreign minister declined to take any questions from the media and did not talk about what issues the Emirate authority tabled on their part and whether they have accepted any conditions attached to the promised development projects or if they will also have further discussions or not.

The infamous minister of the ministry of information and national guidance, Abdillahi Ukose came forward after the minister Yonis has finished his briefing and informed the media that they are not taking questions and the briefing was enough, and any questions will be answered in another press conference in the near future, that was a classic attempt to stop the media asking questions the tired president that struggles to recall what he has said the other day and his foreign minister who spoke with no convincing honesty about their deals.

President Siilayo saying little.

What does U.A.E want in return of development projects?

Other sources closed to the delegation are saying the issues the gulf state has tabled at their meetings with president Siilaanyo and three ministers who were accompanied with in the high level meetings with the Emirate officials were included the following points.

The U.A.E wants:

• U.A.E to deal with Somaliland directly
• Dubai Port World to take over Berbera Port
• Somaliland & U.A.E to exchange diplomatic liaison offices
• To establish close ties and common interest
• To use the Berbera airstrip to attack Houthi militia in Yemen
• To  set up a military base allowing the U.A.E and the Saudi allies to recruit Somali and other East African Muslim sunni paramilitary to fight with Houthi militia in Yemen.
• To back Somaliland in the talks with Somalia

The Emirate’s foreign minister visited Moqadishu on the same they he received president Siilaanyo’s delegation in Dubai last Sunday and sources in Somali-Villa are saying the AU troops backed government has agreed most of the above points and wants the Emirate sheikhs to pressure Somaliland on coming back to the negotiating table with Somalia, while at the same time gave its blessing to the U.A.E to secure any deal with Somaliland.

It is not clear why president Siilaanyo’s government is tight lipped and does not disclose what the U.A.E wants from Somaliland, but time will tell what exactly attached to the U.A.E ‘s generosity towards Somaliland.

Cabays Media staff

editor@cabays.com

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