BOSSASO, Somalia Aug 26 (Garowe Online) - Disagreement over livestock export in Somalia’s northeastern State of Puntland continues, as the regional government and local entrepreneurs continue to build separate animal quarantine centers.

Abdisamad “Abwaan” Yusuf, Puntland’s commerce minister, told a press conference that the administration opposes the animal quarantine local business interests are building in Bossaso, the region’s commercial hub.

He claimed that Puntland police “deported” an unnamed Arab businessman, who was invited to Puntland by local entrepreneurs.

But a Bossaso-based businessman, Ahmed Odowaa, told Radio Garowe during a Tuesday interview that the Arab businessman was “threatened,” but was not deported.

“He [Arab businessman] flew out of Bossaso with government officials present,” Mr. Odowaa said, adding: “Moments later, we heard a press conference held by the Minister of Commerce saying he [Arab businessman] was deported.”

He described Commerce Minister Abwaan’s media comments as “creating hostility” between the Puntland government and local businesses.

Mr. Odowaa claimed that the animal quarantine center, which is funded by the business community, is near completion and will begin operations soon.

But he said local businesses were feeling pressure from the government of Puntland, which inked an agreement giving wealthy Saudi Arabian businessman Suleiman al Jabberi exclusive rights to export livestock from Puntland for the next 15 years.

Under the deal, Mr. al Jabberi is building an animal quarantine center co-owned by the Puntland government.

“The livestock belongs to Somalis and we are Somali businesspeople,” Mr. Odowaa said, while saying that the region’s constitution allows a “free market economy” and prohibits economic monopoly.

Source: Garowe Online