Somalia: Federal Government to Open Talks with Puntland Administration

Mogadishu, Aug.31, 2013 (SDN)-Federal Government of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said on Friday his government wants to open talks with Puntland government in northern Somalia. “I am very sorry to hear Puntland’s decision on relations with Federal Government, we all remember that it [Puntland] was a strong base for the current government [Federal Government of Somalia], Puntland offered moral and material support but I don’t know why it did so,” President Hassan said in an interview with Somali National TV.

Speaking about a new plan aimed at ending months of worsening relations between the Somali Federal Government and Puntland, President Hassan unveiled that his government is planning to hold talks with Puntland.

“A plan is underway to overcome what has strained the issues,’ President Hassan told SNTV, referring to the talks in pursuit of cooperation.

Puntland withdrew cooperation from the Somali Federal Government in Mogadishu on 05 August, 2013 in response to what Puntland described President Mohamud’s move of undermining the country’s federal system and involving interminable efforts intended to weaken the stability of Puntland regions.

Source: Garoweonline