Puntland, Somalia: A major conference on determining the future direction of Somalia’s Puntland region will take place in Garowe next week, organized by politicians and civil society groups.
The “Discussion Conference on the Future of Puntland” aims to address the political uncertainty in Puntland over the upcoming selection of the Puntland parliament on December 2023 and the presidential election on January 8, 2024.
Former Puntland Finance Minister Farah Ali Shire, who recently contested the presidency, announced that the conference will kick off on October 10 in Garowe. It intends to produce decisions to “save” Puntland before the governments’ mandate expires.
Organizers have accused President Said Abdullahi Deni’s administration of seeking a two-year term extension to deliver democracy.
The Garowe conference is expected to be a heated and closely watched event. It is likely to produce a range of proposals for the future of Puntland, including on the timing and format of the next elections, the role of traditional leaders in the political process, and strategies to address Puntland’s economic and security challenges.
They vowed that this conference will yield stronger outcomes than past Puntland talks.
“There is a need to discuss how to save Puntland before the government’s term ends shortly. This conference will be different and make tough decisions,” said Shire.
The Garowe conference is expected to be a heated and closely watched event. It is likely to produce a range of proposals for the future of Puntland, including on the timing and format of the next elections, the role of traditional leaders in the political process, and strategies to address Puntland’s economic and security challenges.
Puntland is a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Somalia. It has been relatively stable in recent years, but there is growing concern about the upcoming political transition.
