Hargeisa (SD) – The President of Republic of Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi, has today received credentials from the newly appointed United Arab Emirates Representative to Somaliland.

“The President of the Republic of Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi has today accepted the credentials of the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of Somaliland, Ambassador Abdala Alnaqbi.” statement from the Somaliland presidency said.

The statement continued “The envoy presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Somaliland and greetings from top officials of the United Arab Emirates thanked the President for his valuable welcome.”

The President of Somaliland told the envoy that he came to a country and people who love brotherhood and cooperation that is characterized by development and cooperation between the two peoples and the two governments.

President Bihi briefed the Ambassador on the democratization process that has taken place in the Republic of Somaliland for the past thirty years since its independence in 1991, and that Somaliland is anticipating a series of by-elections scheduled for 2021.

The move comes at a time of strained diplomatic relations between the federal government and the UAE, with the Somali government last month accusing the United Arab Emirates of plotting to destabilize the country.