Hargeisa (KAAB TV) – Somaliland’s National Party, Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan, has publicly denied reports that he had a secret meeting with the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, during his recent visit to Djibouti.
Hirsi described these accusations as baseless, insisting that his party is committed to clear and transparent leadership.
“I did not have a meeting with President Hassan Sheikh while I was in Djibouti,” he said. “If there were any negotiations, they would be in line with the party’s policy and would be held openly. Our party does not work in secret.”
News of the secret meeting sparked outrage in Somaliland’s capital, with protesters accusing Hirsi of undermining Somaliland’s bid for independence.
Critics also criticized his trip to Djibouti, a country Somaliland has had strained relations with over the past year.
Also, they claimed that Hirsi went beyond the boundaries of his role as a party chairman, describing his trip as “unlawful diplomatic,” which is usually held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hirsi played an important role in the opening of the first official dialogue between Somaliland and Somalia during the administration of former President Ahmed Silanyo.
These talks were aimed at resolving the long-standing dispute over Somaliland’s declared independence.
However, after more than ten years of unsuccessful negotiations, many people in Somaliland see these talks as futile.
Critics argue that these negotiations have not brought any progress on the issue, and are seen as distracting from Somaliland’s internal politics.