Hargeisa (Hornpost) Businessman Awil Abdillahi Nur Beegsi (Awil Cawl), one of the leading entrepreneurs in Somaliland whose business extends to neighboring countries such as Ethiopia, Djibouti, the UAE, and other places, has issued a press release
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Businessman Awil Abdillahi Nur Beegsi (Awil Cawl), one of the leading entrepreneurs in Somaliland whose business extends to neighboring countries such as Ethiopia, Djibouti, the UAE, and other places, has issued a press release regarding incidents he described as part of the hostile campaigns waged against the land and people of the Republic of Somaliland. He warned that there are ongoing attempts to ignite clashes between the people of Somaliland and the Oromo community of Ethiopia living in Somaliland, which, if not addressed, could trigger conflict that would harm the interaction and trade between the two societies.
Somaliland and Ethiopia share cultural and economic ties:
The peoples of Somaliland and the Oromo community of Ethiopia have maintained cultural and economic relations spanning hundreds of years. Broadly speaking, our neighboring country Ethiopia shares much with us. When we were displaced, fleeing bombardments on Hargeisa, it was Ethiopia that welcomed us and gave us refuge.
Today, Ethiopia is home to hundreds of thousands of Somalilanders, including students, businesspeople, and residents with visas.
Somaliland’s trade and business community also enjoy good relations with Ethiopia. It is our main gateway to the rest of the world, and we are two countries that share a lot. The trade volume between us amounts to hundreds of millions when considering imports and exports combined.
Who is trying to sow discord between Somalilanders and the Oromo people of Ethiopia?
I want to alert the people and government of Somaliland to the dangers of fueling conflict between Somalilanders and communities from our neighbor Ethiopia. I want to expose the plots being orchestrated by Somaliland’s enemies, who attempt in various ways to destabilize us internally—particularly whenever the recognition of Somaliland seems to be drawing closer.
These schemes are part of the wider transformations taking place in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, where global powers and emerging regional forces are competing. The Republic of Somaliland’s strategic location—near the Bab el-Mandeb strait and with the Port of Berbera—has drawn the attention of the United States and the international community. Therefore, the people of Somaliland must be vigilant against anything that threatens our security and reputation.
In the UAE, for instance, millions of foreigner’s work, including around 4 million Indians. Similarly, Somaliland will inevitably attract foreign workers in the future. Thus, we must leave the handling of foreigners and migrants to the government and the law.
Recommendations:
I call upon the President of the Republic of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi, the Minister of Interior Abdalle Mohamed Arab, and the Commander of the Somaliland Police, Abdirahman Dheere, to prevent clashes between Somalilanders and the Oromo people of Ethiopia, as such tensions pose a grave security threat.
I urge the Government of Somaliland to develop legal frameworks to regulate foreign workers, particularly Ethiopian migrants, in accordance with both international standards and Somaliland’s own laws.
I advise the people of the Republic of Somaliland not to take the law into their own hands and not to harm refugees living among us. Instead, matters should be left to the government, while also curbing youth who engage in such acts. Otherwise, this could negatively affect Somalilanders who are students, traders, and residents in Ethiopia.
All thanks to God.
Businessman Awil Abdillahi Nur Beegsi (Awil Cawl)
Press release in Somali Language
Hornpost staff Reporter