Garowe Online (Garowe)
17 November 2008
A high-level delegation from the government of the Republic of Djibouti began an official three-day visit on Saturday to Hargeisa, capital of Somalia's breakaway republic of Somaliland.
Djiboutian Finance Minister Ali Farah and the delegation were warmly received at Egal International Airport in Hargeisa by a number of Somaliland officials, Radio Garowe reported.
Mr. Farah told reporters at the airport that Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Ghelle sends his condolences to Somaliland about the October 29 suicide bombings that killed upwards of 20 people in Hargeisa.
He indicated that the Djiboutian delegation came to Somaliland to improve economic and security relations between the two parties.
On Monday, Djibouti's finance minister met privately with Somaliland leader Dahir Riyale at the presidential palace in Hargeisa.
Said Adani, the president's spokesman, told the media that the two officials discussed security and economic relations at length, including the opening of a French bank in the region.
Local press in Somaliland has reported that Djiboutian Finance Minister Farah's delegation includes a wealthy Saudi businessman, with growing speculation that the Riyale administration is planning to ink another controversial livestock export agreement, which will use the Port of Djibouti as an export point.
Somaliland, in Somalia's northwest, declared independence in 1991 but has not been recognized internationally.
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