Somalia’s President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed met with Puntland
administration President Abdurrahman Mohamed Farole today at Somalia’s
embassy in Nairobi to discuss signing an agreement the two sides have
reached on August 23^rd this, on cooperation until the federal system is
implemented.

Before the agreement was signed, the two sides disagreed on the
definition of Puntland administration. President Ahmed has refused to
refer to Puntland as the “Government of Puntland State of Somalia”.
Instead President Ahmed proposed to be called the “The government of
Puntland regional autonomy”. This has angered the President of Puntland
who walked out of the talks.

“Regional autonomy refers to one region, we are not one region,” Mr.
Farole told at a press conference in Nairobi after walking out of the talks.

The Somali government defended its stance. Information Minister Dahir
Mohamoud Gelle explained the Transitional Government’s position.

“The President believes there is only one government in the state of
Somalia, that is why the President would not sign this document, but
there are regions and regional autonomies which we recognize,” Gelle said.

Puntland’s insistence on this is detrimental to the unity of the
country, Gelle told VOA Somali Service.

Also, the two sides have disagreed over the validity of the Transitional
Charter. The President of Puntland told reporters that he believes the
charter is exhausted since the five-year term of the TFG has ended last
month, beginning from the time it was formed in Kenya in October 2004.

In response, the TFG stated that the Djibouti agreement clearly extends
the Charter and the mandate of the TFG.

The agreement that was reached in Galkayo central Somalia on August
23^rd creates minefield both for the Somali government and Puntland. The
15 point agreement covered issues on federalism, security and piracy,
constitution and sharing foreign aid. Puntland sees this as an important
document which will allow Puntland to get its share of aid to the TFG
and development programs. For instance, the agreement stated that
Puntland should get 25% of the educational funds and scholarships
Somalia receives from foreign bodies and governments. It also included
opening a counter-piracy base in Puntland and to open an office in
Puntland for the commission drafting the continuation.

This has sparked massive anger by some TFG parliamentarians who accused
the government for succumbing to the demands by Puntland, since the
Puntland has full representation with the Somali government.

“The President has told Puntland that the Somali government is to serve
all regions and clans equally,” Gelle said. Having heard the President’s
position, the Puntland delegation threw their fists, which is not a good
thing.

President Farole directly accused the Somali government of “opposing
Puntland to develop”.

“Our intention was to convince the government that our people need
development, we wanted the President to recognize the right of Puntland
to develop and to build its own ports, airports and hospitals and we
believe that some members of the government do not want this [….] for us
this is nonnegotiable,” he said.