MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, Abshir Omar Haruse, has resigned and submitted his letter of resignation to Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre.
In a statement, Haruse said the reason behind his resignation was to prepare for the election of the president of the Puntland state which is now underway in Garowe city.
During his 1.5-year tenure, Haruse played a role in Somalia’s achievements, including the lifting of the UN arms embargo, debt relief, joining the EAC, and deputy IGAD secretary.
Abshir Omar Haruse is heading to Garowe city today, Monday, where he is expected to announce his candidacy for the presidency of Puntland ahead of the January 8 election.
The parliament will choose the state’s next leader on Jan. 8, after current leader Said Abdullahi Deni dropped the direct vote plan that triggered deadly clashes earlier this year.
Deni said last week that Puntland’s next leader would be chosen according to the existing clan system by the state’s 66 lawmakers, who are themselves selected by clan elders.
The main Opposition presidential candidates accuse president Deni – who holds the title of president and wants a second five-year term – of seeking to tip the ballot in his favour.
