By Younis Ahmed, staff writer
Mogadishu, Somalia (Somalistandard) – The Puntland state government has expressed surprise and concern over the recent appointment of Abdikarin Hussein Guled as the envoy for Somaliland affairs by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
This move comes at a time when the city of Lasanood, the capital of Sool region, has been embroiled in a war for more than two months.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Puntland on Thursday evening, the state criticized President Hassan Sheikh for underestimating the severity of the situation in Lasanood and failing to fulfill his constitutional duty to protect the people of Sool region.
Puntland also expressed doubt that the federal government can impartially mediate in the conflict given the recent appointment of a Somaliland envoy.
“This issue (appointment) goes against the long-standing concerns of the people of Sool and their decision to declare that they are not part of Somaliland,” stated the press release from Puntland.
Puntland has called on the federal government to refrain from taking sides and exacerbating the already complicated situation in Lasanood and the SSC (Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn) regions.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in casualties and displacement of civilians, and Puntland urged all parties to prioritize peaceful resolution and dialogue to bring an end to the violence.
The appointment of a Somaliland envoy by President Hassan Sheikh has further strained relations between Puntland and Somaliland, as both regions have long-standing disputes over territory and sovereignty.
The conflict in Lasanood has added to the tensions, and Puntland’s criticism of the appointment reflects their concerns about the neutrality of the federal government in mediating the conflict.
The situation in Lasanood and the wider SSC regions remains precarious, amid ongoing efforts towards peaceful resolution and growing calls for dialogue to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
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