Garowe(Mogadishu24)-Puntland State has on Tuesday welcomed the recent remarks by Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed 'Lafta-Gareen' defending Somalia's federalism.
Speaking at a press conference in Garowe, Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mohamud Aidid Dirir, commended Lafta-Gareen’s position on federalism, stating that Puntland has long advocated for implementing federalism as outlined in the constitution.
Minister Dirir criticized Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing him of undermining federalism in both his current and previous terms.
He further alleged that the President has been attempting to alter the constitution to suit his agenda without proper consultation. Dirir condemned the holding of the National Consultative Council meeting on August 1-3, which he claimed was timed to disrupt Puntland’s 26th anniversary celebrations and local elections.
Dirir also expressed concern over federal government actions, such as failing to submit international agreements to parliament for approval and suspending donor-funded development projects in health sectors, particularly mother and child care, from what he described as his ally federal members states.
The statement from Puntland follows Lafta-Gareen's defense of Southwest State residents in Hudur, who supported Ethiopian troops and opposed the deployment of Egyptian forces as part of the new African Union Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Lafta-Gareen praised federal parliament members from the Southwest for their strong representation and called for unity in ensuring security and development in the region.