By Jama Ayaanle Feyte
Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan, the chairman of Somaliland’s main opposition party, WADDANI, has issued a blistering response to recent remarks made by the leader of the rival KAAH party, Mahmoud Hashi, sharply rebuking his counterpart over critical national and diplomatic affairs.
Clarifying his party’s international engagements, Hirsi firmly rejected suggestions that their presence abroad is merely symbolic. “Our establishment in Qudus is not a simple office—it is a fully accredited diplomatic embassy,” he asserted.
Turning to the paramount issue of international recognition, Hirsi emphasized that the matter remains monolithic and non-negotiable. “The recognition of the Republic of Somaliland is an indivisible national cause. It is not a commodity that can be halved or compromised—it is an all-or-nothing proposition. You are either fully committed to securing it, or you are not,” he declared.
The WADDANI chairman cautioned against reckless rhetoric on issues of national sovereignty, warning that any misstep would have consequences. “If you lose your bearings on these matters, you will be corrected and put back in your place—particularly when it comes to national affairs, which cannot be rushed. Recognition is the primary consensus upon which all Somalilanders are united today. Do not reduce it to a platform for political point-scoring or personal trap-setting,” he admonished.
In a direct and personal attack on his political rival, Hirsi offered a stark character assessment: “Mahmoud, I acknowledge certain traits in you—including a measure of unreliability—but your ingratitude is something I had not previously witnessed. I recognize your reputation for rhetorical flair when it comes to articulating the truth, but what I was unaware of was your lack of practical resolve and follow-through.”
In a significant revelation, Hirsi alleged for the first time that Hashi had reneged on a prior agreement the two leaders had reached at the holy sites in Mecca. He named Ali Said Raygal and Ibrahim Siyad as witnesses to that pact.
Chairman Hirsi concluded his address with a stern and pointed rebuke: “Mahmoud, let me set the record straight regarding those men—they are your own kinsmen and uncles, yet today you have chosen to disparage them.” He ended with an emphatic, direct challenge to his opponent, signaling a deepening rift between the government and opposition.
