Somalia: Concern raised over Puntland President’s numerous foreign trips in 2016

GAROWE, Puntland- Faced with a barrage of criticism over his continued international and local trips, GO highlights Puntland President’s trips during last year, Garowe Online reports.

In 2016 alone, President Abdiwali Mohamed Ali “Gaas” has made a total of 17 local and overseas trips to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United States, Canada, China, Kenya and Ethiopia, averaging 6 months out of Puntland region.  

Critics have questioning if the region needs the President to travel from one country to another and what the trips actually mean for the average citizen in a region facing a crippled economy.

But the government always comes to defend and say the trips are of great value to strengthen bilateral relations and develop the region, whereas public has raised concerns on why the government is incapable of improving services or develop infrastructure following these many trips.   

According to the records, Ali’s trips are almost equivalent to his stay in Puntland, a total of 166 days he has stayed outside Puntland. He has travelled abroad in the past three years more times than his predecessors, at a time his government is facing a cash crunch.

Pundits say the trips paint an image of a “tourist” President, however, some claim that Ali was using the trips “to run away from problems facing the region.”  

These led people to express worries to the cost of President Ali’ travels on the state budget amid failure to pay security forces and civil servants their entitlements for over 7 months.

The current administration has failed miserably to introduce policies to tackle problems facing the region that witnessed proliferation of terrorist groups and surge of attacks against government officials, worsening drought conditions and inflation that hit the region’s most vulnerable populations the hardest. 

The region also seen recurrent fighting and tensions with neighboring Galmudug region over disputed territories that led to the killing of civilians and displacement of thousands of families from Galkayo city in Mudug region. 

Puntland, located northeastern of Somalia has been relatively stable compared to the rest of Somalia but sporadic terrorist attacks and fighting are posing serious risks to the stability of the region.

GAROWEONLINE