Somalia President opens conference on vision 2016 in Puntland

GAROWE, Somalia, April 30, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Federal Government of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has opened a consultative conference on the country’s 2016 benchmarks in Puntland capital of Garowe on Thursday, Garowe Online reports.

Loose federalization process, finalization of Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC), and the progresses being made in vision 2016 are taking center stage in the meeting which kicked off at Puntland Health Ministry headquarters.

President Mohamud praised Puntland for its pivotal role in establishment of permanent national government in Mogadishu.

On the formation of federal state in central Somalia, Mohamud once again reiterated that the new development in Adado would not affect Puntland and other emerging federal states.

Speaking about New Deal Somalia compact, he said his administration has yet to receive pledges made at Brussels conference, and called on international partners to review reconstruction programme.

Meanwhile Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali who is hosting the conference in Garowe focused on the emulation of Puntland for the nascent endeavor of forming federal states in central and southern Somalia.

President Ali for the first time expressed doubts on the Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC) which contains clauses and articles that have been tampered with: “We still adhere to the constitution signed by Somalia Federal Government, Puntland, Galmudug, Ahlu Sunna and UN political office [as guarantor],” said Ali.

Jubaland and Southwest state leaders Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) and Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan on their side commended Puntland for its efforts in restoring governance across Somalia.

Committees representing Mogadishu-based federal government, Puntland, Jubaland and Southwest state have begun exchanging views on key agendas after the opening speeches. 

GAROWE ONLINE