Hiiraan Online

Thursday June 15, 2023

Garowe (HOL) - Puntland regional state President, Said Abdullahi Deni, and Vice President Ahmed Elmi Osman Karash, welcomed former Somaliland House of Representative, Abdirisaq Khalif Ahmed, to Garowe on Thursday.

Khalif resigned from his roles as the Speaker of the Somaliland Parliament, a member of the House, and a member of the Wadani party due to the prolonged conflict in Las Anod. He accused the Somaliland government of killing innocent people and destroying Las Anod.

Before Speaker Ahmed's resignation, his move to Las Anod and the subsequent criticisms he levelled against Somaliland had already raised concerns. Faysal Ali Warabe, the chairman of the opposition party UCID in Somaliland, argued that Ahmed had effectively left Somaliland when he expressed support for the 33-member SSC elders' committee and accused Somaliland of atrocities in Las Anod.

Earlier this week, the United Nations Security Council expressed concerns about the persistent violence in Las Anod, located in the Sool region of northern Somalia. This ongoing conflict has resulted in a significant number of civilian casualties and has displaced over 150,000 people.Somaliland said it was worried the UNSC was "misinformed about the facts on the ground" and appealed for support and understanding from the world body.

Meanwhile, President Deni, speaking at the opening of the 52nd session of the Puntland parliament on Thursday, expressed concerns about the security and political situation in the Gedo region of the Jubbaland administration.

"We are sorry for the growing concern in the Gedo region. It is unfortunate that the government is oppressing the Gedo region, the current leaders are doing what they have already refused from the previous government of Somalia," said Deni.

Deni called for complete reconciliation in Jubaland to fully resolve the tensions in the Gedo region.

Tensions in the Gedo region renewed a few days ago after the Governor of the Gedo region, Ahmed Buule Garad, strongly objected to the newly appointed administration by Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe.

Federal lawmakers from Jubbaland state have also expressed their opposition to the new Gedo region administration. These parliamentarians view the appointment as detrimental and further alienating the people of Gedo and Jubbaland.