Puntland Post Monthly
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01/03/2020 Volume 3 Issue 6 Puntland Post Monthly INSIDE THIS ISSUE WHITHER PUNTLAND? In February Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni called for a consultative conference for Puntland stakeholders. The conference to take place mid March 1. WHITHER PUNTLAND? will have almost all the characteristics of the 2. BERBERA URBAN PROJECT 1998 conference out of which an autonomous 3. THE LOOMING administration emerged. The founding President of CONSTITUIONAL CRISIS IN Puntland Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed envisioned a Puntland SOMALIA that would pioneer federalism for a Somalia that was still 4. AGAINST THE POLITICAL a country with no government. Twenty one years after ISOLATION OF DJIBOUTI that conference Somalia has a Federal Government but its 5. PUNTLAND TO LOSE writ does not run throughout Somalia. It is dependent on African peacekeepers. FEDERAL REPRESENTATION OF Who should take the blame for apparent DISPUTED TERRITORIES failure federalism in Somalia? Should one equate 6. US SUPPORT FOR SOMALI this political failure with possible relapse to state failure? ARMY SUSTAINS POLITICAL INSTABILITY President Deni made the right call to hold a 7. MUDUG GOVERNOR consultative conference. Puntland has been staunch supporter of federal institutions since the end of WARNS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGAINST the transition. Puntland political class deluded themselves into thinking that ending the transition is a DEPLOYMENT OF TROOPS sure way to institutionalise federalism. The absurdity of 8. BLOOD MONEY AND this line of thinking is better reflected by how the PUNTLAND JUSTICE Federal Governments under President Mohamed SYSTEM Abdullahi Mohamed turned out to be a 9. THE ILLEGALITY OF more destabilising entity than its predecessor. ETHIOPIAN TROOPS’ The centralismg goals of theFrom incumbent page 1 PRESENCE IN SOMALIA Federal Government has had consequences for the From the above data one can 10. SIDRA: NEGOTIATE relations between Mogadishuinfer and that Federal 89.9% Member of domestic States. Puntland is a key member of the WITH AL-SHABAAB revenues get incurred as Federal Institutions but its forcesexpenditure. are not a11% part ofof thethe clantotal militias known as the Somaliexpenditure National Army. will goThis to public exclusion means Puntland forcesservices. do not Ministries get training that directly similar to the one clan militiascontribute in Mogadishu to the economy and nearby – regions undergo under the name of the Somali National Army. See page 2, column 1 the Somali electoral law got Integration agenda on the other Whither passed without the – all at the expense of genuine endorsement of all Federal political reconciliation promised Puntland? Member States. With the by President Mohamed From page 1 surrender of Ahlu Sunna Al Abdullahi Mohamed when he The President of the Federal Jama’a the Federal vowed he would act like an Government interfered in Government has a reason to “elder sitting under a tree” to Puntland politics when, in an believe the wind is in its talk to everyone. interview, he urged President sails: three Federal Member “The Announcement of Deni “to respect wishes of the States – Galmudug, Puntland Consultative people”. Hirshabelle, and South West Conference is a step in the right State – are in its fold in addition direction” says Ismail Haji Other challenges facing to Mogadishu whose status Warsame, an influential blogger Deni’s administration range beyond capital city has yet to be and writer. The Federal from the legacy agreement with agreed. Government will try to send to DP World-owned company that Garowe spoilers. Did it ever runs Bosaso Port. The Puntland has agreed the 2016 occur to ardent Puntland administration of Dr Abdiweli electoral agreement that gives federalists that Mohamed Ali saddled Puntland State federal federalism would produce a Puntland with contractual representation of disputed President fanning dissent in the obligation that can cost territories without seeking a Mother of Federalism in Puntland its image as a just solution to Somalia, as many people call destination for investment the territorial dispute. The Puntland? At the end of the should Puntland government new electoral law places disput consultative conference the terminate the Bosaso Port ed territories within Somaliland, direction Puntland will be going agreement, which has had a meaning Puntland will lose to will be clearer. severe impact on the economy represent constituencies in dis © Puntland Post Monthly, 2020 of Puntland. Bosaso business puted territories. community remains sceptical Signing up to a what DP World can do to make new electoral model will Bosaso as thriving a port town commit Puntand State to as it was before Deni’s working with the Federal predecessor inked the Government, which exploits deal with P &O. Puntland weaknesses and in the process damages trust. The On several occasions Puntland Federal Projects has turned out State distanced itself from to become a centralism legislations passed by the movement that on one hand Federal Parliament and the plays a nationalist card Upper House. One such law is and subscribes to US-driven the electoral law. Described as the Horn of Africa Economic impractical by the United States, 2 | Punland Post Monthly 1/3/2020 | Issue Number: 06 Berbera Urban Project development projects similar THE LOOMING this project to promote economic launched by the growth and create opportunities CONSTITUTIONAL Somaliland for citizens, especially women CRISIS IN Government and the and youth. SOMALIA The European Union’s H.E. European Union One Ambassador Nicolas Berlanga Martinez who has also made year ago in Garowe President By Khadar Mariano remarks at the inauguration of Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed rejected the call from Federal Berbera urban development he project emphasized the significance of the project for the Member States to form a project was jointly inaugurated City of Berbera in terms of collective leadership council to in Berbera by the European sustainable development and prepare Somalia for elections. Union, Somaliland Ministry of increased economic activities in With less than a year to go Planning, Municipality of the city as well as more before the planned 2021 Berbera and UN-Habitat on the opportunities for its elections the International 30th of January 2020. inhabitants. “This project will Community urged Somali propel the city of Berbera to According to the joint press stakeholders to pool their to hold achieve sustainable statement released, the €7.5 “credible” polls. The Federal development goals of building Million “project will support resilient infrastructure, Government relies upon the inclusive and sustainable promotion of industrialization electoral law passed by the development of the coastal city and innovation. The project will Federal Parliament in December through strengthening the hopefully address the challenge 2019. Not all Federal Member capacity of the municipality in to improve waste management States agreed the electoral urban planning, improving the not only in economic or model. In March 2016 there was waste management system as operational terms but also a consensus on the enhanced well as stimulating employment considering the environmental and entrepreneurship for urban elections held in 2017. The and social impacts” communities.” incumbent Federal Government Ambassador said. and Federal Member States lack a common political ground to The Federal Government of thrash out issues that affect Somalia has signed this project, cooperation over preparations in September 2019, with the European Union with a total for the 2021 elections. The budget of €23 Million for the Federal electoral law coastal cities of Mogadishu and complicates matters. Article 53 Berbera. The rest of the fund will empowers the Federal The Vice President of be committed to projects in go to Parliament to decide the next if Somaliland H.E. Abdirahman the capital City of Mogadishu. elections do not take place as Abdilahi Saylici, who was planned. Inserted in the © Puntland Post Monthly , present at the event, has noted electoral law is an ambiguous how important this project will be 2020 clause that can be interpreted in to helping Somaliland attain _____________________ different ways. If planned one National Development Plan II person, one vote elections do goal. The Vice President has also underlined that the not come to pass, the Federal government will prioritize the Parliament will decide where to 3 | Punland Post Monthly 1/3/2020 | Issue Number: 06 go from there. This can mean AGAINST THE troops to Somalia as either (a) the Federal Parliament POLITICAL peacekeepers. will expedite a term extension It is unfathomably bizarre to for the executive and legislative ISOLATION OF see the Federal Government branches or (b) the Federal DJIBOUTI of Somalia buying into the Parliament will recommend the strategy to exclude Djibouti appointment of a caretaker Djibouti and Somalia are two from the Horn of Africa government. First scenario is sisterly countries. Somalia stood by the people of Djibouti during Economic Integration less likely given the opposition initiative proposed by the to term extension expressed to their struggle for independence. The late Djibouti Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Somali political parties and the President Hassan Gouled Dr Abiy Ahmed. It is not a International Community. The Aptidon never got tired of his carefully discussed policy of second scenario might stand a effort to help Somalis Somalia to consider Djibouti better chance to succeed if it reconcile.