Puntland warns of hostility in central Somalia

GAROWE, Somalia, June 20, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Puntland Government in northern Somalia has warned of what it described the grim consequences of ongoing state formation conference in Adado on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.

In second statement in a week, Puntland said, Somalia Federal Government will unilaterally shoulder the responsibility for any hostilities spawned by Adado conference.

“Puntland tells Somali people and international community that central state formation will spark domestic hostilities and war between the brotherly people who lived side-by-side for many years,” read the press statement from Puntland presidency.

The north eastern state which maintains precarious ties with Mogadishu-based Federal government indicated that it previously made clear about the ownership of Mudug’s northern, eastern and western parts:” Unfortunately, what emerged  is that copies of constitution, and endorsed by delegates were distributed in Adado, it claims that [central state] border falls in Nugal region”.

On Thursday, approval of controversial constitution by Adado conference delegates took a center stage in weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Puntland President, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali.

On June 15, in a speech to the parliament, Ali threatened that everything will be reconsidered if federalization process maligns existing federal states.

Last Wednesday, Somalia Interior Minister Abdirahman Mohamed Hussein hailed the endorsement of regional constitution a step forward in the country’s state formation endeavor. 

READ: Puntland President warns of constitutional violation 

GAROWE ONLINE