Somalia: Federalization dominates Puntland cabinet meeting

GAROWE, Somalia, June 11, 2015(Garowe Online)-Somalia’s loose federalization process has dominated a weekly cabinet meeting chaired by President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali at Puntland State House in the midst of growing signs of damaging political deadlock on Thursday, Garowe Online reports.

Shortly after the weekly cabinet gathering, President Ali said, Somalia’s federalism has been beset with clan interests in favor of a person instead of nationally agreed-upon roadmap in remarks that come less than a week after Jubaland administration and the paramilitary group of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamea suspended cooperation with Mogadishu-based Federal Government.

Puntland leader acknowledged in a press statement released by his presidential spokesman that the true path to inclusive federalism has been defied, threatening that Puntland would reconsider its position if Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC) was violated.

Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting focused on the recent gains by Puntland forces in the rugged terrain of Galgala where Al Shabaab militants have honed guerrilla warfare.

Security Minister, who briefed the meeting, indicated that anti-terrorism operations are underway, with Puntland troops securing victory against militants.

Implementation of Somalia’s federalism in central and southern Somalia seems to be proving vulnerable according to an analyst who asked to remain anonymous.

Sufism-leaning Islamist militia seized strategic central town of Dhusamareb, forcing government soldiers to flee to venue of state formation conference in Adado on Sunday.

UN envoy to Somalia Ambassador Nicholas Kay on Tuesday called on the paramilitary unit to withdraw and disengage.

In an interview with Puntland-based independent station, Radio Garowe, a spokesman for Ahlu Sunna Abdinur Mohamed Hussein said, they were not considering pullout.

On Wednesday, Galguduud Governor Hussein Ali Weheliye Irfo vowed that government forces will take back Dhusamareeb from rebels despite calls for compromise and peaceful solution to the standoff.

On June 6, Jubaland broke off all relations with UN-backed weak central government over the passing of controversial vote of no confidence.

The following day, Puntland hailed the decision to cut off ties with Mogadishu, calling the parliamentary move ‘unconstitutional’ motion which could plunge the country deeper into crisis. 

GAROWE ONLINE