Mr. Abdullahi Mohamed Du'ale, Somaliland's foreign minister, answered lawmakers' questions Monday in Hargeisa, the regional capital.
U.S. Congressman Donald Payne with Puntland President Abdirahman Farole in Washington, D.C.
Somaliland lawmakers grilled Mr. Du'ale as to why the Somaliland administration refused to participate at a Congressional hearing in Washington, D.C., on Somalia.
Invitees to Washington included representatives from the transitional government in Mogadishu, Puntland officials from Garowe and Somaliland officials from Hargeisa.
Congressman Payne, who chaired the hearing attended by Puntland President Abdirahman Farole on June 25, publicly criticized Somaliland for demanding a "separate panel" to promote the region's breakaway agenda.
"If Somalilanders cannot sit with fellow Somalis to explore ways to bring peace to Somalia at this critical juncture, I wonder what this says about their commitment to Somalis," Congressman Payne said in opening remarks at the historic hearing in Washington.
Congressman Payne, who chaired the meeting, promoted the hearing as a discussion forum among Somalis to debate "common issues," such as humanitarian aid, terrorism and piracy. Discussion of political agendas including Somaliland's breakaway status was not part of the hearing.
But Somaliland Foreign Minister Du'ale downplayed the U.S. Congressman's comments, telling lawmakers in Hargeisa that Somaliland was pushing ahead to become internationally recognized as an independent country.
Somaliland is located in northwestern Somalia and unilaterally declared independence in 1991 but has not been recognized internationally.
The relatively peaceful separatist region is ruled by President Dahir Riyale, who was elected in 2003 but has delayed presidential elections and extended his term in violation of the region's constitution.
Source: AllAfrica
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