GAROWE, Puntland – The President of Puntland Said Abdullahi Deni held talks with the British Ambassador to Somalia today in Garowe after arriving in the city on a working visit.
A statement from the Presidency said that President Deni together with the Vice President discussed with the UK Ambassador to Somalia Michael Nithavrianakis on the current electoral crisis.
The meeting was also attended by members of the Council of Ministers of the Puntland.
The Presidency added that the completion of the process of democratic elections and the acceleration of the UK’s development projects in Puntland were on high of the agenda.
President Deni and the Puntland electoral commission seek to hold direct elections, while the opposition demands a return to a clan-based electoral system in the Federal state.
In June this year, deadly Clashes broke out in the capital, Garowe after the opposition accused Puntland’s leader of seeking constitutional changes to extend his term in office.
More than 36 people, mostly civilians were killed and dozens wounded plus many fled their houses during heavy fighting between pro-opposition forces and the government soldiers.
An arid oil-rich region on the northeastern coast of Somalia, Puntland declared autonomy in 1998 and relations with the central government in Mogadishu have often been tense.
