Puntland president insists on breakthrough in Kismayo talks despite difference

BOSASO – Puntland president Abdiweli Mohamed Ali claimed ‘breakthrough’ in recent election talks in Kismayo, despite failure to produce an agreement on the model of election the horn of Africa nation would hold this year.

The talks attended by the country’s stakeholders which aimed to brainstorm the type of election Somalia would hold in spite of differences failed to proceed, with the sticking points remain over power sharing approach and selecting of the country’s next parliament.

In an interview with Voice of America’s Somali service, Mr. Ali insisted that the talks yielded a breakthrough with leaders narrowed their divisive issues, saying that Puntland agreed holding elections based on 4.5 power sharing formula, despite resistance by rival regional states.

“It’s void to say that the upper and lower houses are in each other's pocket and that each one can separately be formed, therefore, we have to be clear: Puntland agreed to the formation of the lower house, so the upper house argument is invalid.” He said.

He insisted that proceeding to the next stage requires good governance and an administration that could bring all sides together, in an apparent reference to the Somali government-led efforts to end the dispute on the model of the upcoming elections.

Asked if he would attend the next round of talks which is due to take place in Mogadishu, he said he has not been invited to it. He declined to confirm whether he would not attend if invited.

The president’s remarks come despite reports that he signaled compromise to the 4.5 power sharing formula, in an indication that the region has unfastened its long-held ‘uncompromising’ policy towards the formula as Puntland earlier insisted on power sharing scenario based on constituencies unlike regular 4.5 power sharing system.

GAROWEONLINE