Somalia’s autonomous state of Puntland has strongly said that it doesn’t need the African Union peacekeepers known as AMISOM on its soil to deal with the growing insecurity in the region in recent months.

Puntland cabinet members held a meeting on Wednesday in the state’s capital Garowe to discuss on issues related to security and dismissed reports saying that AMISOM troops will be deployed in the region.

A Press statement released after the meeting said that Puntland is capable enough of handling the security situation in its territories.

‘’ There is no need for AMISOM or any foreign troops in our region,’’ said the Minister of Security, Hassan Alore while addressing local media.

AMISOM, which was established by the African Union’s Peace and Security Council in January 2007, operates in Somalia’s Southern territories, assisting the federal government in fight against the al-Qaeda-linked extremists.

In recent months, al-Shabaab has intensified attacks in the stable region mainly on the commercial hub port town of Bossaso. Last month, a suicide bomber exploded himself on a van ferrying UNICEF staff members, killing four foreign nationals.

An anti-al Shabaab Conference kicked off in Garowe two days ago, where high ranking officials from the administration, Muslim clerics, Intellectuals, Security officers, local elders and representatives from the civil society groups are discussing to form a strategy to defeat the group.

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Garowe, 17 August 2014 – The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, pledged the UN’s continued support for Puntland today at a ceremony to mark the first anniversary of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia’s (UNSOM) in Garowe, the State Capital.

“Puntland has made important political, economic and security progress in the last year for which the Government and people deserve full credit. But much more remains to be done, including working together with the Federal Government and other emerging states on developing a federal system of governance, reviewing the provisional Constitution, and preparing for elections in 2016. Full cooperation between the State of Puntland, interim and emerging national administrations, and the Somali Federal Government is vital,” Mr Kay said.

“All of Somalia can learn and benefit from Puntland’s experience and achievements since 1998. I am convinced that the formation of other federal member states within Somalia is in the interest of Puntland and all Somalia. Puntland should not lose any territory that it currently administers,” he added. “Final boundaries will be determined according to the process prescribed in the Provisional Federal Constitution.”

“International support for peace- and state-building in Puntland will continue to be guided by the principles of Somali ownership, leadership and respect for the Provisional Federal Constitution,” SRSG Kay said.

Ends.

Note to editors

UNSOM was established by the UN Security Council on 3 June 2013. Based in Somalia, UNSOM is mandated to support the Federal Government of Somalia with its peace and state building agenda, including the federalism process, review of the provisional constitution and elections in 2016. It also works to strengthen Somalia’s security sector, promote respect for human rights and women’s empowerment and assist in the coordination of international assistance. UNSOM’s mandate was renewed for a further year on 29 May 2014 by Security Council resolution 2158 (2014).

For your reference, please find attached a joint letter from Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, Special Envoy for IGAD, Mohammed Affey, and Special Envoy for the European Union, Michele Cervone, to President Abdiweli Mohamed Al “Gaas” on the recent agreement of intent to form a new regional administration in central Somalia. 

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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.

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