Somalia: Puntland Leadership on visit amid military offensive against ISIS

GAROWE, Puntland- Vice President, Abdihakim Abdulahi Haji Omar, and Puntland Parliament Speaker, Ahmed Ali Hashi, have travelled to Mogadishu, to hold talks with outgoing Somali leaders over row on parliamentary seats for clans hailing from disputed regions of Sool, Sanag and Buhodole, Garowe Online reports.

Somalia’s electoral body has announced last week, that parliamentary election for Upper and Lower Houses for clans hailing from Somaliland region including contested regions, will take place in the capital Mogadishu.

Pressure mounted from clans hailing from Sool, Sanag and Buhodole on Vice President Omar and Speaker Hashi to relocate the election of those seats to Garowe city, regional capital of Puntland state, after reports of candidates representing Somaliland were contesting for the seats.

Prior to their trip to Mogadishu, Omar and Hashi held joint press conference in Garowe, blaming Somali leaders-term ended in September 10- for the lingering political row over the process and noted the presidential election will only take place after the conclusion of both Lower and Upper Houses election in the regional states.

However, their visit to Mogadishu comes amid latest trip by Puntland President Abdiwali Mohamed Ali “Gaas” to China, who he held meetings with several Chinese-based companies. President Ali was reported to postpone further trips to several African countries and will head back to Puntland on December 11, following one week visit to Kenya.

The trip of Puntland leadership coincides with the mobilization of Puntland security forces to carry out major offensive against ISIS-affiliated faction who captured Qandala village last October. The fall of Qandala marked the first time that ISIS-aligned militants have taken control of a town in Puntland region.

On the other hand, severe drought conditions in Puntland regions still continue to devastate the livelihood of vulnerable pastoralist communities, amid lack of emergency response plans by Puntland government to avert the worsened humanitarian situation in the region.     

GAROWEONLINE