GALKAYO, Somalia, August 25, 2015 (Garowe Online)-The President of Somalia’s Puntland government Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has officially launched a four-day consultative conference in Galkayo, calling for unity and end to internal grudges on Tuesday, Garowe Online reports.

Ali was speaking alongside entourage of ministers including Interior Minister Ahmed Elmi Osman (Karash) and Minister of Environment Ali Abdullahi Warsame.

The regional gathering is set to explore many means in restoring trust among local communities according to organizers.

“Puntland people’s plan to achieve self-governing [within federal government], and then seeking Somali [unity] has proven successful,” Ali told a crowd of participants on the first day of the consultative conference in the state’s gateway to south-central regions plagued by chronic insecurity over the last two decades.

Continuing, Puntland president said: “If Puntland is to embrace progress in economy, security and social cohesion, we must opt for radical change”.

United Nations envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Nicholas Kay welcomed the opening of the conference in a brief statement to the media.

“Puntland consultative conference underscores the shared and wise vision the people of Puntland after 17 years,” Kay said of the ongoing gathering.

The convention is expected to herald consensus on standing differences. 

GAROWE ONLINE