Hargeisa (Sunatimes) The president of the Somali breakaway region of Somaliland Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo has affirmed that they will not soften their political stand and rejoining the rest of the Somalia.

He said the recent delegation from his region that has delivered humanitarian aid in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, was purely on humanitarian ground and has nothing to do with politics.

Addressing reporters in Hargeisa on Thursday night, Silanyo ruled out any political significance of their visit to the south, saying that they will not negotiate for their secession from the rest of the country.

He was responding to criticism from opposition parties in his region and an alleged assertion from the Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

He said it was their responsibility to come to the aid of their brothers in the south who were suffering and thanked Somaliland people.

He said the southerners should not view their generosity as political come back of the northerners.

Silanyo criticised the assertion by some leaders of two main opposition parties in Somaliland, UDUB and UCID especially Feisal Ali Warabe who alleged that Silanyo was softening his stands as far as the region’s separation from the rest of Somalia is concerned.

The regional president said such accusations amounts to insult aimed at misleading Somaliland people. He urged locals not to listen to baseless accusations from the opposition parties.

By Siham Mohamud