MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to travel to the northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland, weeks after regional authorities hinted at attempts to cease cooperation with the federal government.
His visit would come days after an Ethiopian delegation arrived in Garowe to sign a security cooperation pact with the authorities whose details have not yet been made public.
Mohamud is expected to discuss efforts to bring an end to the row with the federal member state during meetings with regional President Saeed Deni, an erstwhile ally whose support handed him victory in this year’s presidential election.
Deni’s hopes that he would be appointed Premier was dashed when the President named Hamza Abdi Barre, who comes from Jubaland State. Authorities in the northeastern region accused Mohamud of breaking his promise that he would pick Puntland leader as his Prime Minister if the latter supports his re-election bid.
Capitalizing on the friction, Ethiopia which was irked by Mohamud’s trips to Egypt and Kenya in which he had struck undisclosed agreements, invited Deni to the capital Addis Ababa for talks on closer cooperation. Addis Ababa has sidelined the Somali federal government since its ally Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo left office and instead has begun forging ties with federal member states.
In his meeting with Deni, Somali President would also raise the recent Jubaland parliament vote that extended the regional leader’s term by another year that has sparked anger and calls for the federal government to step in. Mohamud wants Deni to pressure Ahmed Madobe to reverse his decision that could open the door for similar steps taken by other states.
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