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Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 6,
2009 (SL Times) – Muhammed Muse Yusuf (Makhtal), a Somaliland native who
now lives in England arrived in Hargeysa this week, after taking a car
tour through eighteen countries and three continents in order to
publicize Somaliland’s need for international diplomatic recognition. Mr
Muhammed Muse Yusuf was warmly welcomed by Hargeysa’s Mayor Hussein
Mahmud Jiir and excited Somalilanders.
Mr Muhammed Muse Yusuf started his trip in Sheffield, England, and drove
his own car through 18 countries, including France, Belgium, Germany,
Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
Mr Muhammed Muse Yusuf thanked Mayor Jiir and Somaliland’s press for
their warm welcome and said the reason he undertook that difficult trip
was because he believed in Somaliland’s independence. He was also
strongly critical of the BBC’s Somali Service Director, Mr Yusuf Garad,
and accused him of sabotaging Somaliland. “When there is bad news about
Somaliland such as the terrorist attacks, he likes to spread it, but
when there is good news regarding Somaliland such as my trip, he
suppresses it, the way he refused to air the interviews with me that
were recorded by Amina Wehiliye and another BBC lady.”
Mr Muhammed Muse Yusuf said that during his trip he talked to people
about recognizing Somaliland. He also said he faced both help and
obstacles in his voyage.
The Ethiopian embassy in Djibouti, for example was a hindrance to him
because it refused to give him permission to drive his car through
Ethiopia. On the other hand, Mr Muhammed Muse Yusuf expressed deep
appreciation and gratitude to the President of Djibouti, Djibouti’s
information minister, and Djibouti’s head of intelligence and traffic
for the excellent support they extended to him while he was in Djibouti.
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