Puntland Sets Condition on Talks with the Federal Government

Garowe, Sep 05, 2013 (SDN) — The authorities of Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland have set a condition on possible negotiations with the federal government of Somalia.

The president of Puntland Abdurahman Mohamed Farole said his region will only sit and talk with the Mogadishu based federal government if the government agrees to return back 31 articles already amended from the country’s federal constitution.

“Before opening any negotiations with the government, they have to agree that they did the amendment, and then they have to be convinced to return back all the 31 articles.” President Farole said during an interview with Somalichanel satellite TV.

Farole alleged the federal government top leadership was pushing unnecessary amendments towards the federal constitution which he has attributed to his region’s decision to cut ties with the government early last month.

“We won’t accept beyond the 31 articles we have raised earlier and any talks will go after this condition.” he said repeatedly.

The Puntland administration on the country’s northeastern region and the federal government based in Mogadishu have been on bad terms since august 5th when Puntland declared its boycott against the federal government.

But according ti a statement from the office of the Speaker of Somalia Federal Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari, there was no any changes on the constitution.

“The Federal Parliament which is the only national body who has the right to launch constitutional amendments did not carry any amendments and there were no any articles removed.” the Speaker’s statement released late August said.

The Speaker reiterated that after wider review and consultations the current constitution will go into public referendum.

 

SDN Garowe