Puntland accuses Somalia’s president of arming clan militias amid rising tensions
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Authorities in northeastern Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on Thursday accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of arming clan militias in an effort to destabilize and undermine the regional administration, as a widening dispute over constitutional amendments and upcoming elections continues to strain relations between Mogadishu and regional leaders. Faysal Ali Jifo-Jabsade, the […]
Black News 
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Authorities in northeastern Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on Thursday accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of arming clan militias in an effort to destabilize and undermine the regional administration, as a widening dispute over constitutional amendments and upcoming elections continues to strain relations between Mogadishu and regional leaders.
Faysal Ali Jifo-Jabsade, the Puntland governor of Mudug region, said the federal government had failed to support Puntland’s military campaign against ISIS militants operating in the Al-Miskad mountains. According to the governor, the president declined requests for assistance during the offensive and blocked injured regional fighters from receiving medical treatment in the capital.
Jifo-Jabsade said some wounded personnel were denied passports needed to travel abroad for treatment, while others were refused admission to hospitals in Mogadishu by federal authorities.
The regional official alleged that Mohamud expected ISIS to overwhelm Puntland forces and trigger the collapse of the regional administration. He said that outcome did not materialize and that Puntland would continue sustaining its own fight against insurgent groups.
The accusations come as tensions escalate between Mogadishu and Puntland, which has aligned with a coalition of political stakeholders known as the Somali Future Council. The group opposes the federal government’s recent constitutional amendments and what it says are plans to extend the government’s mandate.
The standoff unfolds as the terms of Somalia’s federal government and parliament are set to expire within weeks, deepening uncertainty over the country’s political transition and the conduct of upcoming elections.
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