Somalia: Walkout by UN officials casts shadow on pass out ceremony in Puntland

ARMO, Somalia (Garowe Online Exclusive)-United Nations officials invited to attend a pass out ceremony held for police officers at academy in northeastern Armo town requested for walkout, citing deteriorating security situation in Puntland, Garowe Online has learned.

Foreign bodyguards and representatives in unusual bullet-resistant vests sped off in their UN convoy after they informed Puntland officials in the ceremony about their premature leaving.

Sources tell GO that UN officials apologized for skipping formal speech at the event, in a budding development that sheds light on concerns voiced over lax security gripping  ‘once tranquil Puntland’.

Garowe Online understands, United Nations Agencies honed alert since late April, when a suicide bomber killed six people including four UNICEF staffers in front of main compound in the state capital of Garowe.

“UN officials and their drivers were all wearing bulletproof vests, and they refused to stay inside up to the conclusion of event during which, they had a statement. This was really an embarrassment [in the presence of Somalia Police Force commander-in-Chief, Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud]  to Puntland security commanders who boast of better security in comparison to other parts of the country,” a participant, who declined to be named, told GO.

During his year –and-half presidency, Ali has been earth-shattered by murder of UNODC personnel in his home town, Galkayo and the recent UN van bombing.

Puntland government has not delivered outcome of investigations allegedly launched into the deadly incidents yet.

Puntland Vice President, Abdihakin Abdullahi Haji Omar cried foul about staggering security lapses over the course of a review into UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (JPLG) on October 5.

Confidence in Puntland security situation was a record high in 2014, with foreigners working for United Nations taking a stroll in major towns.

READ:
Somalia: Puntland President fails to honor promises [Editorial] 

GAROWE ONLINE