Addis Ababa(Wajaalenews

Excellency, President of the Federal Democratic republic of Ethiopia

Dr Mulato Teshome Wirtu

Excellency Speaker of the house

ATO Abadula Gamadha

Excellency, African Union Chairperson

Dr NKosazana Dlamini Zuma

Excellency, President of the new Generation University

Dr Mathews Gichile

Distinguished guests,

Families and friends of the graduating students,

Ladies and Gentlemen;

It is a great honor for my country ,and a great privilege for me to participate.

This graduation held at this wonderful Campus –New Generation University, “The little Africa village in Addis Ababa”.

Let me extend a warm greetings and appreciations to the graduating students, congratulation for your achievements and splendid work you have done.

This is not the ending point of your journey, but the first step to realize, to build and achieve your ambitions. Keep on the hard work.

I hope you a bright and prosperous future.

I wish to explain two points regarding to my country, Somaliland,

üMy country and Ethiopia have historical ties back in centuries. As neighbors our relations had its ups and downs. But for the last two and half decades, we had created solid Cooperation in security, diplomacy, trade and commerce, education, and culture.

üThe late prime minister HE Melees Zenawi , the current P M HE Hailemariam Desalegn     And our Presidents HE Ahmed Silanyo, and his predecessors have made such an Environment that foster the close relationship between the two sister countries,

Although my country has the attributes of statehood, yet international community and regional government ,as well as the African Union are dragging to accept the reality on the ground- the Sovereignty of Somaliland.

Indeed, the case of Somaliland is totally   different from secessionist, rather it emerged from a failed Union. Our case   is not different from the similar cases happen in Africa, such as the failed unions of;     Mali and Senegal; Egypt and Syria, separation of Eretria from the rest of Ethiopia and lastly the split of Sudanese Republic into two Sudanese Republics in 2011.

Somaliland’s withdrawal of illegitimate Union neither invalidates nor ruling out the OAU, charter and even its successor The African union (AU), t In particular the article which makes intact and scared the boundaries that Africa inherited from the colonial powers.

None the less, our government entered into formal and informal cooperative arrangements with states and intergovernmental organizations including ; Denmark, UK ,USA,Kenya, Ethiopia Djibouti ,South Africa and Intergovernmental Authority on development (I GAD) and the UNO.

Our experience in peacemaking and state building, without an international engagement, can be drawn not only to the Somalia failed state but also the other distressed regions in the world.. Somaliland is an island of peace and a democratic government, therefore , we are in an urgent need to recognize our efforts and get fair hearing to our case.

Thank you