MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Tough talks between Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Puntland leader Saeed Abdullahi Deni, that continued for more than four days, ended without results on Monday.
The two had one-on-one meetings in the town of Garowe in which a number of contentious issues were discussed after Mohamud’s appointment of Hamza Abdi Barre as Prime Minister, who comes from Jubaland State, infuriated Puntland leader.
Sharing power and resources between the region and the federal government was among the key sticking points during the meetings. Deni also demanded a fair share in the foreign development aid earmarked for Somalia while Mohamud pressed for the regional authorities to condemn a recent term extension exercised by Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud returned to Mogadishu on Monday after four days of talks in Puntland. He did not brief the media. Both sides did not issue a communiqué giving details of the outcome of their meetings.
An official who was following the talks Sakariya Mohamed Isti’mar said Mohamud and Deni discussed personal interests, adding that all other officials from Puntland and the federal government were refused to attend the one-on-one talks.
An official with the Somali President’s office was quoted by Caasimada Online News website as saying that the four-day talks focused on restoring cooperation and resolving grievances of the regional authorities, adding that “there was no need for a communiqué.”
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