Somalia: New Galmudug leader says wants talks with Puntland

ADADO, Somalia, July 5, 2015 (Garowe Online)-The newly elected President of Galmudug Abdikarin Hussein Gulled said that he wants to talk to Puntland in dialogue a day after 50 MPs of 89-member regional assembly picked him as president, Garowe Online reports.

“We are ready to talk to each and every side, our brothers of Puntland, we say let’s help each other, together work on security and set up a co-operation,” said Gulled, adding that he is keen to cooperate with neighboring administrations.

On July 1, in anniversary celebrations address in Garowe, Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali made first public comments on Adado endeavor, calling Galmudug a ‘phantom’ meant for destabilizing peaceful regions.

“Ongoing Adado conference doesn’t look like a push to form a federal state, but in turn it is a plot orchestrated from Mogadishu to undermine existing and peaceful state,” Puntland leader told a crowd of politicians and traditional leaders on Somalia’s 55th Independence Day.

The remarks has come after United Nations, IGAD, EU, AU, and the US called on Mogadishu-based Federal Government and Gulled to open dialogue with Puntland to resolve the dispute on boundaries.

“We call on the Galmudug administration and FGS to open dialogue with Puntland to resolve the dispute on boundaries, noting that the legal issue arising from state formation processes will ultimately be resolved through the work of the Boundaries and Federation Commission and the harmonization of constitutions,” the international community partners in a joint press statement.

On the paramilitary group of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamea, President-elect asked for participation in his forthcoming government.

“I urge Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamea admin to welcome newly-formed Galmudug state; Ahlu Sunna played a big role in security and stabilization of [central regions]. We are ready to extend calls for talks to them, and take part in the administration,” he said in a message to the most dominant armed wing in central Somalia.

With government troops being forced to flee, the moderate Islamists cruised through Dhusamareb last month, selecting own leader in protest at Adado convention over the weekend.

Gulled, influential presidential aide and former National Security Minister defeated his closest rival and former Spy Chief Ahmed Moallim Fiqi in an overwhelming vote on Saturday.

GAROWE ONLINE