Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Press Release

11/02/05

Somaliland President's Visit to South Africa, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

President Dahir Rayale Kahin and his delegation returned from visit to Djibouti, Ethiopia and South Africa.
In Djibouti, the president met with his counter part the president of Djibouti H.E Ismail Omer Ghelle and members of his Government. In Addis Ababa the President met the Prime Minister of Ethiopia H.E Meles Zenawi and his ministers. On both occasions matters of interest to the two respective countries were discussed.
During his visit to South Africa, discussions were held in Cape Town, attended by the Somaliland President H.E Dahir Riyale Kahin and ANC leaders in the Western Cape, both sides exchanged ideas and discussed ways to consolidate Somaliland's emerging democracy with particular attention to the up-coming Somaliland parliamentary elections scheduled for 29 March 2005. The two sides also welcomed the steady progress being made in developing people-to-people's relations between South Africa and Somaliland.
The Somaliland President and ANC leaders furthermore welcomed the planned African Union fact-finding mission to Somaliland and exchanged ideas, which urged African leaders in areas of conflict on the Continent to cooperate with the African Union to solve outstanding problems in a peaceful, and fair manner. The Somaliland President praised President Thabo Mbeki's peace-building efforts in Africa and his efforts to promote Nepad's goal of inter-African trade, to achieve the aims of a stronger and renewed African continent. Both the Somaliland
President and ANC leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the nurturing of peace and stability on the continent. They also reiterated the need for urgent action in implementing the culture and language of dialogue in the Horn of Africa.
The Somaliland President paid a courtesy call on H.E. President Thabo Mbeki's Minister in the Presidency Dr. Essop Pahad, as well as on the provincial premier Mr. Thabang Makwetla of Mpumalanga and held talks with the Premier of the Western Cape, Mr. Ebrahim Rasool.
Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs and the University of South Africa's (Unisa) ABET department signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Joint Programmes on 8 February, which commits the parties "to the development of an indigenous programme for Adult Education and basic literacy". Both sides agreed a Unisa team will visit Somaliland to begin the joint programme as soon as possible, in order to contribute to the implementation of Nepad's goals and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in education.
The President H.E Dahir Riyale Kahin and his delegation also met with religious leaders, such as the Acting President of the Muslim Judicial Council, Moulana Ighsaan Hendricks.
During his visit in South Africa, the Somaliland President also met with key South African business people, such as Tokyo Sexwale and the Oppenheimers.
The Somaliland President and his delegation also had the opportunity to visit some of South Africa's navy bases, Soweto's Hector Peterson Museum, the Apartheid Museum, Robben Island and to address the closing session of the Mpumalanga Growth & Development Summit. The Somaliland President also responded to speaking invitations from key South African institutions, such as Pretoria-based Academy of Self-Knowledge, the Institute for Global Dialogue, and the South African Institute of International Affairs.