Somali Prime Minister
Somali Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre reiterated the enduring cordiality between the federal government and the Puntland regional state, despite the recent absence of cooperation due to Puntland’s disconnection from the federal government.
In a recent interview with VOA Somali in Washington, D.C., Prime Minister Barre emphasized the federal government’s readiness to address any concerns put forth by Regional President Said Abdullahi Deni to advance the country’s governance.
“President Deni has not made any overtures to communicate his intentions to us. We eagerly await his engagement and the articulation of his concerns,” Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre remarked. He also emphasized his preparedness to journey to Puntland to resolve political disparities, highlighting the government’s unwavering commitment to open dialogue as a means of conflict resolution.
“We extend the entirety of our resources to support the Puntland government, and we are prepared to engage in cooperative efforts to address their challenges. We remain hopeful that our colleagues, particularly President Said Deni, will discover shared solutions with us,” he appended.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Barre emphasized that the most opportune moment to engage with President Deni would be after the conclusion of local council elections, considering that Puntland’s leadership is presently preoccupied with the electoral process.
“I believe we can address other matters once the regional elections have concluded,” Barre stated.
In January, President Deni severed ties with Somalia’s federal government, asserting that Puntland would operate independently until a constitution was drafted and a referendum conducted. This political tension led to President Deni’s non-participation in the National Consultative Council (NCC) meetings in Baidoa and Dhusamareb this year.
In May, Somalia’s Deputy Finance Minister, Abdiqafar Hassan Hange, suggested that President Deni’s opposition to the federal government stemmed from his unsuccessful bid for the position of Prime Minister.
Last year, President Deni publicly supported Mohamud during the decisive final round of the national presidential elections, resulting in Mohamud’s victory over the incumbent President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. At that time, political analysts widely anticipated that Mohamud would appoint Deni or one of his close associates as Prime Minister, but this expectation did not come to pass.
In May this year, Puntland’s regional administration organized its inaugural local elections under democratic principles, marking a significant event not witnessed since 1967.
A total of 3,775 candidates from seven political parties, including the ruling Kaah party, vied for 774 seats in the May 25 elections. Kaah, Mideeye, and Sincad emerged as the top three entities, securing the majority of seats in the local council parliament. While more than 385,000 voters were registered for the elections, only 177,445 participated.
