Somali Prime Minister Advocates for Dialogue to Repair Federal-Puntland Relations

Somali Prime Minister Advocates for Dialogue to Repair Federal-Puntland Relations

In a recent interview, Somali Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre, underlined the strong bond between the federal government and the Puntland regional state. This comes in the wake of a noticeable lack of cooperation following Puntland’s decision to sever ties with the federal administration. Prime Minister Barre has expressed his readiness to address the concerns raised by Puntland’s regional President, Said Abdullahi Deni, with particular focus on improving the country’s governance. The Prime Minister also showed a willingness to travel to Puntland to resolve political differences and emphasized the federal government’s readiness to engage in dialogue and collaborate with the Puntland government.

Prime Minister Barre postulated that the most suitable time to sit and have a dialogue with President Deni would be after the local council elections. He believes that the leaders of Puntland are currently preoccupied with the election process. This comes after President Deni declared in January that Puntland would operate autonomously until a constitution was drafted and a referendum conducted. As a result, Deni avoided National Consultative Council meetings this year.

Unraveling Political Rivalries: A Look into Deni’s Opposition

Abdiqafar Hassan Hange, Somalia’s Deputy Finance Minister, attributed Deni’s opposition to the federal government to his unsuccessful attempt to become Prime Minister. Furthermore, last year, Deni publicly supported Mohamud in the national presidential elections, which led to Mohamud’s victory over the incumbent President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. Despite expectations that Mohamud would nominate Deni or a close associate for the Prime Minister’s position, this did not materialize.

In May, Puntland made a significant stride towards democracy by holding its first local elections since 1967. Out of the 3,775 candidates from seven political parties who contested for 774 seats, the most seats were won by the Kaah, Mideeye, and Sincad parties. Despite having over 385,000 registered voters, only 177,445 participated in the voting process.

Conclusion: A Path Towards Co-operation

In conclusion, the recent political developments in Somalia signal a promising future for the country’s governance. The willingness of the federal government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Barre, to engage in dialogue and cooperation with the Puntland state, coupled with the successful conduct of local elections in Puntland, indicate a positive trajectory towards democratic governance and national unity.