Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hon. Yasin Hagi Mohamoud Hiir (Faratoon) has officially tendered his resignation to President Bihi to run for parliament in the upcoming elections in May 2021. Sources privy to the resignation of Mr. Faratoon added that President of the Republic of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi has accepted his resignation.
Hon. Faratoon has been on the campaign trail for the past few weeks and there is public speculation that he is vying for the position of the Speaker of the Parliament. The current speaker Hon. Bashe Mohanmed Farah is not seeking reelection has been the speaker of the Parliament since August 2017.
Hon. Faratoon a seasoned politician has headed the Foreign Affairs portfolio under President Bihi since 2018. In his tenure as the Foreign Affairs Minister and International Cooperation, Somaliland has established bilateral ties with Taiwan and has rejected overtures by the People’s Republic of China. These bold actions were widely praised by world governments and media.
In addition, under the leadership of Hon. Faratoon, Somaliland has reached out to multiple African nations including Kenya where President Bihi has visited Nairobi to meet President Uhuru Kenyatta and signed bilateral ties that include diplomatic outpost and flights by Kenyan Airways.
Horn of Africa region is at crossroads with conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and Somalia where delayed elections could precipitate major hostilities. In addition to the events in the region, the change of guard in Washington also brings another opportunity for Somaliland to relitigate its case for recognition with the United States and beyond. It is unclear if President Bihi has anticipated Hon. Faratoon’s resignation at this critical time and has made arrangements for a successor.