GAROWE, Somalia Jul 24 2012 (Garowe Online) – A delegation
from the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia led by the TFG Deputy
Prime Minister arrived in Garowe to settle the Puntland leaders’ strong
reservations regarding the management and conduct of the constitutional
adoption conference in Mogadishu, Garowe Online reports.
The TFG delegation consists of Deputy Prime Minister Abdiwahab
Ugaas Hussan Ugaas Khalif, Minister of Planning Abdillahi Godah Barre, Deputy
Minister of Public Works Hareed Mohamed Ali, the Prime Minister’s political advisor
Kenadid Khawi, arrived at Garowe international airport on Tuesday afternoon.
The delegation was welcomed by Puntland officials including
Finance Minister Farah Ali Shire, Minister of Internal Affairs Gen. Abdillahi
Ahmed Jama, Minister of Transportation and Public Affairs Dahir Haji Khalif,
Puntland Police Commissioner Mohamed Said Jaqanaf, and officials from Puntland
President’s office.
The delegation arrived to meet with Puntland President
Abdirahman Mohamed Farole to discuss the management of the National Constituent
Assembly (NCA) conference which was delayed for the third time this week in
Mogadishu.
TFG Deputy Prime Minister Abdiwahab said in a brief statement
to press at Garowe airport that the TFG and Puntland remain committed to forwarding
the Roadmap process to successfully end the transition by 20 August 2012.
According to Puntland officials who spoke to Garowe Online,
the management of the constitutional conference has been chaotic , due to
interference for political campaign purposes, which has led to the hijacking
and “traditional elders behaving outside of their mandate,” according to
sources.
Puntland officials have repeatedly stated that there is no “elders
conference” that is supposed to take place in Mogadishu, according to signed
agreements among Roadmap signatories in a UN-facilitated process.
Puntland state representatives for the NCA have been submitted
by the traditional elders of Puntland 14 July 2012, however according to local
sources in Mogadishu, some traditional elders in Mogadishu have failed to
submit their list of representatives which has delayed the constitutional
conference with less than a month left in the transitional period.
The constitutional conference is scheduled to open on Wednesday
morning; however Puntland delegates to NCA have been ready to travel to Mogadishu,
a delay largely due to manipulation of NCA conference in Mogadishu by TFG
officials including Prime Minister’s office, according Puntland sources.
On 10 June 2012, Puntland government issued a warning that
the state administration will not be responsible for more mishaps that delay
the NCA opening.
It is not clear what the TFG-Puntland talks in Garowe will
produce, but Puntland officials have been adamant that the many persons who do
not represent Puntland are in Mogadishu claiming to be members of the NCA
representing Puntland.
GAROWE ONLINE
