MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 16 — Said Abdullahi Deni, the president of Somalia’s Puntland state, warned on Saturday of a deepening political crisis linked to disputes over an alleged extension of the federal government’s mandate.
Deni, who is in Mogadishu as part of opposition representatives engaged in talks with Somalia’s federal government, said the policies pursued by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud did not reflect the interests of the Somali people.
He also said international actors facilitating the political discussions did not support what he described as the federal government’s attempts at term extension or the ongoing disputes surrounding Somalia’s political and electoral framework.
The remarks come after several days of political talks in Mogadishu between the federal government and opposition figures ended without a major breakthrough, amid growing tensions over the country’s electoral process and constitutional arrangements.
Somalia’s federal authorities have not publicly responded to Deni’s latest comments.
