Somalia: Puntland President defends position on 4.5

GAROWE, Somalia-The President of Somalia’s Puntland Government, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, has defended Puntland’s opposition to any electoral process ushering in traditional 4.5 power sharing formula, Garowe Online reports.

Speaking on VOA Somali Service during Saturday interview, Ali criticized the quota, reiterating once again that 4.5 is no longer viable and has gone into disuse.

He rejected that Puntland’s adherence to constituency-based model does serve regional interests, and said it is the only electoral transition that could be adopted as a stand-in for the suspended one-person one-vote popular vote for 2016 elections.

Puntland leader argued that a similar selection process is in place in Puntland for the allocation of seats to clans represented in the state’s 66-seat-chamber.

Continuing, he stressed that Somali political leadership shoulders huge responsibility and stressed that Puntland can’t be accomplice in a system leading to national fragmentation.

On extremist factions, he voiced concern on terror movements in hideouts along Golis Mountain Ranges and Galgala. He also stated that his government will be closely monitoring the situation.

Puntland President unveiled that he sees terrorist networks including Daesh and Al Shabaab alike.

Concluding, he was optimistic about Somalia future, hoping the East African country can again stand on its feet.

GAROWEONLINE