GAROWE, Somalia – The incumbent leader of Puntland Said Abdullahi Deni said that the people of SSC regions will remain part of his Federal State during their transitional period.
Deni’s statement came days after the new leader of SSC-Khatumo, Abdulqadir Firdhiye, announced that his people would not participate in the upcoming elections in Puntland.
Firdhiye made the remarks during a forum hosted by a Think Tank at a hotel in Mogadishu.
President Deni added that while the SSC-Khatumo is in the interim period of two years, the regions will have their rights in Puntland, including the post of vice president and MPs.
“Puntland supports the people of SSC, their administration as we said before, during the two years of the establishment of a permanent Federal State,” added President Deni.
Puntland lost LasAnod in 2007 to Somaliland.