The former Speaker of the House of Representatives of the self-declared state of Somaliland, Abdirizak Khalif Ahmed, expressed his support for Puntland’s President Said Abdullahi Deni and praised his efforts in the SSC-Khaatumo region.
Las Anod, SSC, SOMALIA.
In a recent interview with Radio Galkayo, Khalif made clear that any opposition to President Deni should not exploit the SSC-Khaatumo issue as a means to attack him. He emphasized that President Deni had shown utmost dedication to resolving the situation in SSC-Khaatumo and assured that the Puntland government would provide official military assistance had the SSC clan elders requested it.
Following the election of the SSC-Khaatumo leadership, President Deni personally congratulated the appointed leader, Abduqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali ‘Firdhiye’, via a teleconference. Deni expressed his support for the leader’s work and prayed for his success. Additionally, when President Deni was absent, his Vice President, Ahmed Karaash, visited the SSC-Khaatumo region. Karaash inspected the military, surveyed the battle areas, visited villages, and engaged with the local population.
Deni’s actions for SSC-Khaatumo ‘commendable’
Khalif regarded the criticism against President Deni as politically motivated. He urged those opposing the President to seek alternative avenues to criticize him, as President Deni’s actions for SSC-Khaatumo were, according to him, commendable. Khalif maintained that President Deni was the most suitable person to lead Puntland during the liberation of SSC-Khaatumo from Somaliland. According to the former Speaker, Deni’s support was instrumental in achieving success.
The interview took place amidst a tense political climate. Various politicians are attempting to exploit the SSC-Khaatumo victory for their own gain. This is happening even more in the lead-up to Puntland’s upcoming one-person, one-vote elections.
Updates on upcoming elections
Last week, Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mohamud Aidid Dirir, provided updates on the democratic elections in Puntland. He resolutely affirmed Puntland’s plan to honour the much-awaited celebration of democracy. Reflecting on the May local council elections, the Minister conveyed optimism for the one-person, one-vote system application in the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary polls.
Furthermore, Minister Mohamud addressed the time-bound apprehensions. He confirmed the feasibility of orchestrating the elections within the remaining 90 days of the government’s mandate. He listed the readiness of requisite equipment, the government’s fiscal support, and an impressive roster of over 400,000 voters who have already registered on the Puntland Electoral Commission’s (PEC) server. The Minister remained confident in the PEC’s capability to oversee the elections seamlessly.
