Somalia: Galkayo council dissolution stirs protest amid lax security

GALKAYO, Somalia-Fresh questions have been raised after Puntland President AbdiweliMohamed Ali dissolved Galkayo district council by decree on July 4 amid surging outrage at a series of security failures in the city. 

Local clans have objected to a plan by President to meddle in the traditional distribution of council seats, with some constituents already calling their representation in the district council into question.  

Under fire for lavish foreign trips and more focus on federal matters, Puntland President is tryingto fault flawed intelligences and rampant insecurity on a handful of incapable regional security commanders.  

--‘Galkayo district council’ 

Puntland failed to transition into multi-party system of governance in 2013 due to a deliberate sabotage posed by what government at the time called “spoilers” to democratization programmeand state security.  

The northeastern state still continues with clan-based political system, and it is struggling to achieve a more visible viability in local governance.  

Ali picked Mohamud Yasin Ahmed as an interim mayor, ordering the formation of new city council in seven days.  

The President postponed nomination of Mudug governor and regional accountant to gauge the outcome of mayoral vote.  

The 27-member city council is selected by traditional leaders on the basis of complex tribal structure. 

Shortly after his election, Puntland President paid a month-long working visit to Galkayo to form a new district council and asked local clans to bury their hatchets.  

The dissolution of councilors compelled for clans to forge ahead with a debate on howdemocratization could be the right alternative for better representation.  

Traditional leaders of most major clans in Galkayo became furious at the disbanding of local council and called the president’s move “illegal”. 

It remains to be seen whether the date for a new Galkayo city council will have to be extended as Puntland President prepares for a Mogadishu trip on July 17.

GAROWEONLINE