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****** Somalia: UN Delegation Visits Somaliland During Political Deadlock
******
4 September 2009
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Hargeisa — A delegation from the United Nations visited the capital of
Somalia's breakaway Somaliland Republic on Thursday, Radio Garowe reports. The
delegation from the UN's Police Office for Somalia (UNPOS) was led by Mr.
Charles Petrie, the UN's Deputy Special Representative for Somalia based in
Nairobi, Kenya.
A statement from the office of Somaliland President Dahir Riyale stated that
the president thanked the delegation for visiting Hargeisa, the capital of
Somaliland.
"The President and the [UN] delegation discussed many topics, including the
security and stability of Somaliland, and the UN's development projects in
Somaliland," the press statement read, adding: "The President noted that he and
the Government are committed to continue Somaliland on the path to
democratization."
Further, according to the Somaliland president's press release, Mr. Petrie
informed the government of Somaliland that "the UN will open a new office in
Hargeisa" and that the UN is "interested to assist Somaliland with maritime
security to prevent piracy."
Separately, a press release issued on Friday from the UNPOS office in Nairobi
stated that UN Special Representative to Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah,
welcomed the visit by his deputy to Somaliland.
"Somaliland has an impressive history of resolving its internal tensions
peacefully and I hope this tradition will be used to address the current
challenges," said Mr. Ould-Abdallah.
The UNPOS press release indicated that Mr. Petrie's delegation also met with
opposition parties and civil society groups in Hargeisa.
The UN maintains its primary offices for Somalia operations in Nairobi, due to
political instability and relentless violence in parts of the war-torn Horn of
Africa country.
There are political tensions in Somaliland ahead of this month's presidential
election, which opposition parties have threatened to boycott unless President
Riyale rescind an order barring the use of a voters' list for the election.
Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia, unilaterally declared independence
from the rest of the country in 1991 but has not been recognized
internationally.
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