Somalilandsun: it is an exercise in futility for Somalia to enter into any negotiations without the presence of Puntland
This was stated by speaker of the Puntland parliament Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril during an address at opening of a consultative meeting in the capital Garowe organized by the Somalia administrative region.
The conference, which aims to discuss Puntland’s role in Somalia’s future governance
Adding that “Somalia and Somaliland negotiations are not only illegal but unconstitutional because Puntland is not at the table” the top legislator honcho in Garowe also urged the citizenry and leadership of the administrative region bordering Somaliland to the east to inquire about their role in the new
The Speaker told consultative conference which brings together legislators; administrators as well as traditional and religious and with participation by some senior Somalia federal officials that efforts should be made to bring about what we the people of Puntland believe to be in the interest of the Somali community.
Stressing that the new Somalia has adopted a Federal system that Puntland has struggled to benefit from because the system itself is questionable Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril said
“The Fourth Amendment of the Puntland State Constitution defines the extent to which a constitutional referendum approved by the Somali people will be established by the Puntland State of Somalia”.
To make the Somaliland Somalia talks successful the legislator said “I wish the Somali federal government had first consulted with regional administrations thus view these talks and the missions that the federal government conducts.” Adding that the whole point of the talks was solely to divide South and the north and if not remedied expeditiously then Puntland shall be forced to withdraw from the Federal government of Somalia.
“I am one of the top officials in Puntland representing the northern regions of Sool, Saanag and Eyn. We will not hold talks with the Puntland government and we are not part of the so-called gathering of people.” Concluded the Puntland Parliament Speaker Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril
The meeting comes at a time when there have been fierce battles between the Federal Government and some of its member states over the past few months.
The sentiments by Puntland Parliament Speaker Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril echoes those of the regional state’s president Deni who had a day earlier informed that “Unless we are at the Negotiation Table Puntland won’t Recognize Any Outcome of Somali-Somaliland Talks”
While this Somalia regional state which has been in regular confrontation sometimes fateful over jurisdictional claims over territories in the east of Somaliland its position on the illegality of the Hargeisa and Mogadishu talks in reference to Somalia federal constitution is justifiable.
Though Puntland cannot be credited, dismal outcome of the Consultative summit on
relations between Somaliland and Somalia just concluded in Djibouti with a five point agreement and in lieu of past failures by Somalia to implement agreements then the future here for reconciliation seems bleak
