Somalia President says ‘Puntland fighting no exception nationwide’
MOGADISHU, Somalia-Federal Government of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said, fighting raging in Puntland is no exception to those being ensued in the other parts of the country, Garowe Online reports.
Speaking at a ceremony held in Mogadishu, the President noted that it is very strange for militants to target peaceful areas unlike central and southern Somalia.
“The ongoing fighting in Puntland is not different from the ones they [militants] stage in Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Middle Jubba, Bay, Bakool, Gedo, Hiran and Galgaduud,” Mohamudsaid.
Continuing, he expressed his government’s readiness for any support it could throw behind Puntland.
“On our front, nothing has changed so far and the fighting rages on. We will not become tired of. But the new development is now Puntland. It has been more peaceful for so long. This is apparently a warning for Somali people. The dangers of these men do not leave any group and any region spared nationwide.”
The president’s remarks have come after Puntland has pressed ahead with clean-up operations aimed at confronting militants believed to be Al Shabaab in Nugal. Garowe’s ties to Mogadishu have been shaky over Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC), foreign aid and more recently new proposal adopted for 2016 poll.
GAROWEONLINE