The president of the semi-autonomous regional state of Puntland, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has refuted reports claiming an extension of his mandated term as Puntland president.
In recent days, several Puntland politicians have been claiming that there were underway plans to extend the mandate period of the government which its terms comes to end early next year.
Ali who spoke to the media in Garowe town said the presidential elections will be held on the scheduled date announced by the region’s electoral body.
“There had been rumors about extension of the government’s mandate time, I want to assure and tell the people of Puntland that there will be no extension beyond the mandated term of this government,” Ali told the reporters.
Ali who was Somali prime minister before elected to this post has announced that he will be seeking the presidency for second term in next year’s election.
“We know how the situation was, when I was assuming this office few years ago, We came up with tangible changes and still we are struggling to develop Puntland. To complete the mission I personally want run for presidency, so how can someone who eyes the office for second term, declare delay of the elections,’ the president Puntland affirmed.
Puntland is expected to hold its presidential election 8th January next year.
The administration of president Ali which assumed the power in 2014 had struggled to shed its image following thorough operations to get rid pirates and other rival groups including Daish and Al-shabab fighters in the region.
Ali presided over a dramatic decline in piracy in the first half of his term after he collaborated with elders and EU anti-piracy operation off Somalia coast.
In 2005, Somali pirates began staging waves of attacks against foreign ship sailing in and out Somalia’s water, seriously disrupting the major international shipping route as millions of dollars were spent on ransom to release dozens of crew and passengers who fell in the hands of the pirates.
Puntland which is located north-east of Somalia was established in 1998
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