By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Hargeisa — Former Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi has denied claims by President Irro that he twice said he won recognition from Guinea-Conakry and Ethiopia while in office.
In a statement, Muse Bihi said President Irro had told a political party gathering that Bihi had previously claimed he had “twice secured recognition” from Guinea-Conakry and Ethiopia. However, Bihi dismissed the claims as untrue.
“I never said I had entered into recognition with any government,” Muse Bihi said, adding that President Irro had misunderstood his remarks.
The former president said recognition remains Somaliland’s top priority, but added that the matter should be handled through broad consultation to avoid internal disagreement.
Muse Bihi accused the Somaliland presidency of editing his earlier remarks, and claimed that remarks made at the same event by former Somaliland President Dahir Riyale Kahin were completely removed.
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“It is unfortunate that the presidency cut up my remarks and removed their substance. Likewise, the remarks made at the gathering by President Dahir Riyale Kahin were completely removed,” Muse Bihi said in his statement.
Bihi also questioned President Irro’s recent trips abroad, including the one to Israel, describing them as secretive.
He said that during President Irro’s latest official trip, the president spent time in the United Arab Emirates before departing, while ministers who were part of his delegation stayed in Ethiopia for some time and departed from there.
“Mr. President, what brought about this secrecy and division?” Bihi asked in his statement.
The remarks come at a time when Somaliland’s recognition efforts, foreign relations, and presidential trips have become major topics of debate in Somaliland’s political arena. Somaliland has long sought international recognition, a goal that remains one of the top priorities for its leaders.