Somalia : Former Puntland President Warns Against Possible Tampering of the State’s Constitution

GAROWE, Puntland - Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, the former president of Puntland, chairman of the Horseed political organization, and Senator in the Upper House of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, has raised concerns over the Puntland government's possible tampering with the region's constitution.

Farole expressed his belief that the constitution may be tampered with because the current government's time is running out, which could lead to unsolvable problems. He pointed out existing disputes, including the correctness of local council elections and issues in three districts,  adding more to the situation.

According to Farole, the Puntland constitution should only be changed under "unavoidable circumstances" and when all the constitutions at the federal and state levels are unified. He noted that there are currently no circumstances where different parts of Puntland have seen each other. Moreover, the federal constitution is still a work in progress.

Farole emphasized that he could not comprehend the need for a member of the administration to tamper with an article in the constitution. He added that the federal constitution might be completed this year, but many unresolved articles remain.

He asserted that the Puntland’s government could not change a constitutional article to serve a particular administration's interests or enable it to stay in power longer. Farole held the government, led by President Said Abdullahi Deni, responsible for any problems arising from these changes.

Farole called on Puntland's government agencies, including the House of Representatives and the Supreme Judicial Council, to be prepared to confront "what is causing problems in this state."

He advised President Deni to attend meetings discussing Somalia's future, held by the heads of the federal government and administration, and bring Puntland's issues to the table. The International community has not welcomed Deni's absence from the last National Consultative Council meetings, where decisions were made regarding the federalization of the judiciary and Somalia's financial system.

GAROWE ONLINE