Federal MPs representing SSC-Khatumo decline invitation to Northeastern State’s gathering, emphasizing their pursuit of autonomy.

Mogadishu (AX) – Lawmakers affiliated with the SSC-Khatumo administration have flatly declined an invitation to a meeting in Garowe. This gathering, initiated by Northeastern State’s key figure, Said Deni, was aimed at convening federal MPs representing the Northeastern State constituency.

According to recent reports, representatives from Sool, Sanaag, and Ayn, regions known collectively as the SSC-Khatumo administration, have reiterated their allegiance to the decision made in February 2023 by SSC elders. This decision established SSC-Khatumo as a separate entity under the umbrella of the Federal Government of Somalia.

In a bold move, MP Abdirahman Ibrahim Warsame, commonly known as Qowdhan—once a confidant of President Deni and his former deputy finance minister—announced he wouldn’t be present at the Garowe gathering, reinforcing his commitment to SSC-Khatumo’s autonomy.

Tensions are on the rise as political frictions between Northeastern State and the Federal Government intensify. The Northeastern State administration attempted to gather its federal representatives for a consultative session in Garowe, seeking to alleviate the widening political chasm.

Northeastern State, which contributes 37 representatives to Somalia’s federal legislature, sees itself in a quandary, given that SSC-Khatumo has pronounced its separation from Northeastern State.

In an eyebrow-raising decision from April 2024, Northeastern State—a region possessing substantial oil resources and enjoying a degree of autonomy—vowed to operate independently from Somalia until there’s a comprehensive revision and ratification of the federal constitution via a nationwide referendum.

Edited by: Ali Musa

alimusa@axadletimes.com

Axadle international–Monitoring