Somalia: Puntland president hosts US delegation after collapse of Mogadishu talks

GAROWE, Somalia — Said Abdullahi Deni, the President of Puntland, on Wednesday received a senior US delegation in Garowe for discussions focused on Somalia’s political transition, security cooperation, and investment opportunities in the northeastern Federal State, officials said.

The delegation was led by Justin Davis and included officers from the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), among them Col. Shane Jones, commander of U.S. special operations activities in Africa, according to a statement from the Puntland presidency.

Deni, accompanied by Puntland Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugator, discussed the political and security situation in Somalia, with particular attention to what officials described as the country’s ongoing transitional period and Puntland’s role in it.

The talks also focused on strengthening cooperation between Puntland and the United States in areas including security, investment, and the development of natural resources, particularly minerals, fisheries, and oil exploration, the statement said.

The U.S. delegation praised Puntland security forces for ongoing operations in the Calmiskaad mountains against militant groups and commended what it described as improvements in stability and development across the semi-autonomous region.

Davis reaffirmed Washington’s support for Puntland in areas such as security sector assistance, public service delivery, and economic development, Puntland officials said. Senior Puntland cabinet members, presidential advisers, and officials from the presidency also attended the meeting.

The meeting comes shortly after recent political consultations held in Mogadishu between the Federal Government of Somalia and opposition figures failed to produce a consensus on key national issues, including the country’s ongoing political transition and electoral framework.

The breakdown of the talks has raised renewed concerns among domestic stakeholders and international partners about political cohesion and the pace of Somalia’s state-building process.

GAROWE ONLINE