Puntland State Warns of Constitutional Vacuum in Somalia After Raids on Ex-Leaders
In a strongly framed statement, the cabinet denounced "armed confrontations targeting civilians and former senior leaders" in the country’s capital, Mogadishu.
AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State on Thursday mounted a sharp attack on Somalia’s federal leadership, accusing it of creating a “constitutional vacuum” and blaming President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for armed raids carried out against former state leaders in Mogadishu.
The rebuke came after a cabinet session in Garowe led by Puntland State’s Acting President and Vice President, Ilyaas Lugatoor.
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In a strongly framed statement, the cabinet denounced “armed confrontations targeting civilians and former senior leaders” in the country’s capital, Mogadishu.
It singled out President Mohamud as responsible for security force raids on the homes of former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire in Mogadishu on Wednesday, clashes that raged into Thursday morning.
Puntland State cautioned that Somalia risked a deeper political and security crisis unless the standoff in Mogadishu is brought under control.
“Only an urgent agreement on overdue elections could prevent further political and security deterioration,” the statement said.
Tensions between the federal government in Mogadishu and Puntland State have intensified over disputed amendments to the provisional constitution and the structure of the next national elections.
AXADLETM
