Somalia: Puntland, Jubbaland accuse FGS of power grab, seek direct international engagement

GAROWE, Somalia — The presidents of Puntland and Jubbaland, Said Abdullahi Deni and Ahmed Mohamed Madobe, on Wednesday accused Somalia’s Federal Government of abusing its constitutional powers to suppress federal member states with dissenting political views.

In a joint statement issued from the Puntland capital, Garowe, the two regional leaders called on the international community to engage directly with Somalia’s federal member states until a comprehensive agreement on the country’s resource-sharing framework is reached.

Deni and Madobe expressed specific concerns over airspace management, accusing the federal government of unlawfully monopolizing control in violation of established federal agreements. They said a formal complaint had been submitted to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations agency.

The two leaders also rejected recent amendments made to Somalia’s Provisional Constitution, calling them illegitimate and insisting that any constitutional change must result from national consensus and inclusive dialogue. They voiced support for the National Salvation Forum, a political coalition comprising Somali opposition figures.

Finally, the presidents urged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to uphold the agreed-upon constitutional framework and commit to holding inclusive national elections. They warned that, in the absence of such commitments, Puntland and Jubbaland would exercise the full powers granted by their respective regional constitutions.

GAROWE ONLINE