Somalia: Puntland to host meeting to resolve political rift in the country

GAROWE, Puntland - The newly elected Puntland state President, Said Abdullahi Deni said he will host a meeting to seek a lasting solution to the political differences in the country, Garowe Online reports.

Speaking to the press at Puntland presidential palace in Garowe on Monday, Deni announced that the upcoming conference will bring together various Somali political leaders closer to resolve their stalemate.

The announcement came following a closed-door meeting between Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and the leaders of the country's Federal Member States in Garowe last Sunday.

President Farmajo has requested Puntland to host a peace meeting which will convene on mid-march, the first since the regional states broke relations with the central government last years.

"On behalf of myself and the people of Puntland, I have accepted to organize the meeting in Garowe to discuss the unity of Somalia," said president Deni during the press conference.

The development followed the inauguration of Deni last Saturday night which saw the attendance of Former Somali presidents, PM, ministers, MPs and regional leaders, President Farmajo as well as Int'l delegates.

In his keynote speech at the inaugural event, president Farmajo has pledged to resolve the standoff with the leaders of the federal member states in the country.

Moreover, Somali leader had called upon all the opposition parties to exercise their political rights by putting the interest of the nation first in their agendas. 

GAROWE ONLINE