GAROWE, Somalia Sep 13 (Garowe Online) -
An official with the regional government of Puntland, in northeastern Somalia, has raised serious accusations about the incumbent administration of President Mohamud "Adde" Muse.
Mohamud Nur Ali, who is a judge in the Puntland court system, told reporters last Thursday that the Muse administration is "instigating hostilities" in the towns of Galkayo and Las Anod.
Further, Mr. Ali claimed that six trucks "full of weapons" were transported from Ethiopia and arrived two weeks ago in Galkayo, the self-governing region's southernmost town that connects Puntland with the central regions.
Garowe Online sources in Ethiopia and Puntland confirmed that six military transport trucks arrived in Galkayo on August 26 and were unloaded at a local armory.
A senior Puntland army official was leading the convoy, the sources added.
But Puntland's vice minister for security, Mr. Farah Abdi Doorshe, categorically dismissed the reports as "unfounded lies."
He told the BBC Somali Service during a Friday interview that Judge Ali was "irresponsible" for making the allegations, while denying that the Puntland government received weapons from Ethiopia.
Mr. Doorshe also spoke about the September 10 killing of an inmate inside a Galkayo jail, saying the government will pay blood compensation to the victim's family.
The victim was being held in connection with a string of murders in July but had not yet faced court when unidentified gunmen snuck inside the jail and fatally shot him, raising clan tensions inside the town.
Allegations that the Puntland government wants to foment hostilities have been on the increase, with many people concerned that the Muse administration wants to extend its term beyond January's presidential elections.
Critics say government leaders plan to open hostilities in Galkayo and Las Anod a few months before the elections and later argue that elections cannot be held in an unstable environment.
President Muse has publicly stated numerous times that he has no plans to extend beyond his four years in office, but serious allegations from inside the Puntland government has many locals worried.
Source: Garowe Online
