By Dawan Africa - Reporter
Garowe(Mogadishu24)-Members of Puntland’s State Parliament and representatives from the Federal Parliament’s Puntland constituencies have convened in Garowe for discussions on critical issues, including constitutional reforms, federalism, and recent developments in relations with the Federal Government of Somalia.
The meeting, held in Puntland's administrative capital, comes amid ongoing tension between the Puntland administration and the Somali federal government.
Puntland State Parliament Speaker, Abdirizak Ahmed Said, announced that the discussions would center on five key areas: federalism, constitutional authority, power sharing, politics, and the fair distribution of development projects.
Speaker Said highlighted concerns over what Puntland views as “sole intervention” by the Federal Government in matters affecting the state, particularly around constitutional amendments and resource allocation.
The meeting was convened following Puntland’s decision to withdraw confidence in the Federal Government earlier this year after the Federal Parliament passed four chapters of the provisional constitution.
Puntland leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing constitutional reform process, as the government continues working on Chapters 5 to 9 without their full participation.
This gathering in Garowe underscored the increasing strain between Puntland and the federal government, as Puntland and Jubaland opted out of the current National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting in Mogadishu.
Puntland officials argue that the federal government has not fairly distributed development projects, accusing it of politicizing initiatives meant for regional growth.
The outcome of the Garowe discussions could have significant implications for federalism and governance in Somalia, as Puntland seeks to reaffirm its stance on constitutional integrity and equitable power sharing in the nation’s political landscape.
