Puntland Appoints Equivalent of Foreign Minister Amid Frosty Relations with Somalia
GAROWE, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) - Puntland State of Somalia has appointed its first equivalent of a foreign affairs minister. Mr. Mohamed Abdirahman Dhabancad has been named the Representative for Political Affairs and International Relations.
Mohamed Abdirahman Dhabancad, who participated in last year's May elections in Puntland, has now been appointed as the Puntland State Representative for Political Affairs and International Relations.
GAROWE, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) - Puntland State of Somalia has appointed its first equivalent of a foreign affairs minister. Mr. Mohamed Abdirahman Dhabancad has been named the Representative for Political Affairs and International Relations.
President Said Abdullahi Deni announced the appointment on Saturday through Presidential Decree No. 14, dated 20 July 2024.
"The President of Puntland, H.E. Said Abdullahi Deni, has issued Presidential Decree No. 14 of 20 July 2024, regarding the appointment of the Representative for Political Affairs and International Relations. Mohamed Abdirahman Dhabancad was appointed as the Representative of Political Affairs and International Relations," the decree stated.
Dhabancad is a seasoned political leader, having previously served as Puntland's Minister of Finance and Minister of Interior.
This appointment follows Puntland's decision to operate independently from Somalia's federal government after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud unilaterally amended the constitution in March this year.
Last week, UN Envoy for Somalia James Swan visited Garowe, expressing the UN's commitment to work closely with Puntland's leadership and its people.
Last week, UN Envoy for Somalia James Swan visited Garowe and met President Deni, expressing the UN’s commitment to work closely with Puntland.
Puntland is distinguishing itself from the rest of Somalia by advancing its democratic principles. Next Tuesday, residents in three districts, including the capital Garowe, will vote to elect their local councilors and district commissioners. This marks the completion of a long-awaited one-person-one-vote election process, which was initially delayed due to armed violence in May 2023.
According to the Puntland Minister of Interior, once these local elections are completed, the region will hold its next presidential and parliamentary elections through direct voting by the people, making it the first region in Somalia to implement universal suffrage.
Meanwhile, Somaliland, which also conducts direct elections, continues to claim independence from Somalia and seeks international recognition.
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Puntland Appoints Equivalent of Foreign Minister Amid Frosty Relations with Somalia
GAROWE, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) - Puntland State of Somalia has appointed its first equivalent of a foreign affairs minister. Mr. Mohamed Abdirahman Dhabancad has been named the Representative for Political Affairs and International Relations.