President, PM and deputy house speaker meet over Bossaso incident

During the closed-door discussion, the top officials made direct contact with Puntland President Said Deni, who is currently abroad, and discussed ways to de-escalate the rising tension in Bossaso.

News Keydmedia Online
13 July 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and PM Hamza Abdi Barre met at the palace on Tuesday night to discuss Monday's incident in Bossaso, Puntland.

The meeting was attended by the first deputy Lower House speaker Sadiya Yasin Samatar, whose trip to the port city sparked fighting between two rival Puntland security forces [PMPF and PSF].

During the closed-door discussion, the top officials made direct contact with Puntland President Said Deni, who is currently abroad, and discussed ways to de-escalate the rising tension in Bossaso.

According to some Keydmedia Online sources, the President and the Prime Minister have called on all sides in Bossaso city to open dialogue and end the differences in a peaceful manner. 

Reports suggest that the president of Somalia asked deputy House speaker Sadiya to cancel a press conference she wanted to stage a verbal attack on Deni for refusing her to arrive in Bossaso.

Sadiya who hails from Puntland is said to be at loggerheads with Deni over her support for Hassan Sheikh, who rejected appointing Puntland leader as the prime minister of Somalia after losing in the May 15 presidential election.

Her plane carrying aid to the drought-hit people in the Bari region was turned away by authorities, a move that sparked a gunfight between police and counter-terrorism forces on Monday. At least 20 people, mostly soldiers died in the skirmish.

It was the second battle in Bossaso, Bari regional capital since December 2021 and this happens during the tenure of President Deni, who is currently facing pressure from within Puntland state.

KEYDMEDIA English