Somalia: Attention turns to Garowe as Puntland to inaugurate new president

GAROWE, Puntland - Somali president, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has on Saturday arrived in Garowe city, the capital of Somalia's northeastern Federal State of Puntland, Garowe Online reports.

The president accompanied by lawmakers and senior Somali government officials left Mogadishu for Garowe to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected Puntland President, Said Abdullahi Deni.

Farmajo joins the leaders of the Federal Member States in the inaugural ceremony which set to take place Saturday night amid a political fall-out that led to breaking off the cooperation between the two sides.

The former Somali presidents, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sheikh Sharif respectively as well as opposition figures are in attendance of the significant inauguration which grabbed the attention in recent days.

Deni won a highly contested election held in the oil-rich region on 8th January.

In addition, a Kenyan delegation and representatives from the international community, including UN, EU, AU, IGAD, and members from diplomatic missions in the country are also participating in the key occasion.

Meanwhile, the overall Security in Garowe city has been extremely heightened with forces deployed on the streets of Garowe ahead of the inauguration ceremony.

GAROWE ONLINE