GAROWE (Halbeeg News) – Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region has named a new parliament whose members will this month vote for a new president, amid widespread fears the poll will trigger violence.
The lawmakers – 66 lawmakers including 17 from SSC-Khatumo — were unveiled by Puntland’s dispute resolution and vetting committee.
The list comes a day after the Deputy leader of Puntland state, Ahmed Elmi Osman Karaash suggested that Puntland’s dispute resolution and vetting committee select 49 MPs for the region, urging the committee not to include 17 MPs allocated for SSC-Khatumo.
Karaash hailed the decision of the SSC-Khatumo to break away from Puntland state.
SSC-Khatumo Supreme Council last week announced that the SSC-Khaatumo administration would no longer be part of the semi-autonomous northern Somali state of Puntland.
Poverty-stricken Puntland forms the tip of the Horn of Africa and makes up around a third of Somalia’s territory.
Puntland set up its government in 1998, but unlike neighbouring Somaliland, it has not declared full independence.
The new president will lead Puntland for the next four years.
Discussion about this post