Puntland President boycotts to attend UN Security Council meeting with Somali leaders in Mogadishu

Friday, 15 August 2014

The Members of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday visited Somalia capital, Mogadishu making the first historic visit to the war-torn nation.

The Members of the United Nations Security Council met with Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari and leaders of the regional administrations in the country.

The President of Puntland, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas rejected to attend the meeting in Mogadishu. The decision came following Puntland’s boycott against the Mogadishu-based Federal Government of Somalia.

Sources in Garowe told Okesom that President Gaas received an invitation from the United Nations Office in Mogadishu informing him to attend the meeting on Wednesday as the Members of the UN Security Council were heading to the country. But President Gaas officially rejected the call to go to Mogadishu.

Puntland is seen as the first functioning Federal Member State in Somalia. The region has cut its ties with the Federal Government weeks ago following the formation of new administration in central regions of Somalia which the Federal Government endorsed but Puntland opposed saying that the new administration including Mudug region which Puntland controls its northern portion.