Somalia: Fahad Yasin's attempts to meet Puntland president flops

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's spy chief Fahad Yasin's attempts to meet Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni collapsed in Mogadishu, sources told Garowe Online, in what could have been a scheme to rally for cordial relationship between Garowe administration and the federal government.

Fahad Yasin, a former Al-Jazeera journalist, has been operating as "Mr. Fix It" in the administration of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, and his actions have at times irked regional leaders, who accuse him of undermining their authority, besides plotting for their removal.

And according to sources, the National Intelligence Security Agency [NISA] tried to book an appointment with Deni, who has been in Mogadishu for a couple of days now, but his attempts were thwarted, although it's not clear what he wanted to share with the administration of Puntland.

The office of Deni, sources said, blocked the meeting on the pretext that Yasin had not booked a prior appointment, further making it difficult for the president to meet him. Protocols dictate that a formal request is made to the president's team which plans for such meetings.

Before making such attempts, Yasin had held a meeting with Jubaland President Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe and former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The meeting came amid accusations that Yasin was meddling in the internal affairs of some regions.

For instance, Madobe has been accusing Yasin of planning for the deployment of the Somali National Army [SNA] in parts of Jubaland, especially in Gedo. The presence of these troops at Gedo has often degenerated to a serious conflict, including but not limited to persistent clashes between SNA and Jubaland forces.

Yasin is said to be pushing for reconciliation between Farmajo and regional leaders, some who have accused him of planning for a term extension. The mandate for the current administration expires in November, and there are talks on the right model that should be used for elections.

On Thursday, Deni visited the Senate in Mogadishu where he pledged to support them in the execution of their mandate. In recent months, the Senate has been at loggerheads with the Lower House, something which has derailed implementation of the electoral law, just months to polls.

GAROWE ONLINE