By Abdirizak Abdi

As many might agree with most of the sentiments in your editorial entitled " Djibouti’s Chickens Come Home To Roost", I fail to understand why you feel that the Djiboutian regime is wrong by inviting the Bin Laden family to do business or build a whole city in Djibouti.

I am not sure whether or not you are insinuating that the Bin Laden family is guilty by association to what Osama is accused of. It sounds to me as though the writer might be jealous of the progress that the Djiboutians are making in developing their country. As a Somalilander myself, I see nothing wrong with a little competition between us and our brothers in Djibouti but I will defend them from this kind of frivolous charges.  

The Bin Laden family are well known international business men and one of the most prominent families in the middle east and they have every right to do business in Djibouti or anywhere else in the world. I am sure Somaliland government would have welcomed a similar deal for Somaliland if they were offered.  

Even though I think the editor was right in pointing out the shortcomings of Guele and Aptidon regimes, I think he was wrong in this particular point.  

Thanks,  

Abdi