Puntland walks out of Mogadishu conference

Delegates from the northern semiautonomous state of Puntland have walked out of a consultative meeting discussing about the upcoming 2016 presidential elections in the Somali capital in protest of the formations of the government-backed rival Galmudug administration, sources told HOL on Sunday.

Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gas, Puntland president told reporters that his administration’s stand towards Galmudug which he believes to annex parts of Puntland region, as mediations aimed at ending the standoff is going on.

The conference which brought together leaders from the county’s regional administration started on Saturday with the Somali government wants to consult how despite challenges the country would hold presidential elections in 2016 with stakeholders.

 

Somali government has announced that the country would not be able to hold ‘one man, one vote’ election, largely for security reasons.

Opposition parties accused the government of security lax, and corruption, an accusation denied by the government.

Somali government has’nt so far commented on the development which raises serious questions about the relations between the central government and regional adminstrations.

Meanwhile, Puntland president said his administration would issue a statement reflecting the region’s clear position towards Galmudug administration.

Abdikarim Hussein, the president of the Galkayo-based Galmudug administration says his administration wants talks with Puntland to end the political ‘misunderstanding’ between the two sides.

HiiraanOnline