The State Minister of Defense of Somalia, Mr. Omar Ali Abdi, has made serious allegations against the President of Puntland’s autonomous region in Somalia, Mr. Saed Abdullahi Deni. In an interview with a local media outlet, the minister criticized the policies of the Puntland administration, claiming that many young people from Puntland have migrated or relocated to Mogadishu in search of employment opportunities. According to the minister, “At least 60 percent of youth in Puntland have migrated, while the remaining 40 percent are currently living in Mogadishu.” The minister also accused President Saed Deni of obstructing services and programs that the Federal Government was planning to implement in Puntland, citing the National Identification card and other youth opportunities as examples. He further stated that the President of Puntland consistently opposes the efforts of the Federal Government and has disrupted projects and plans that were in progress. The minister also mentioned the recent dispute over a ship carrying arms that was seized off the coast of Puntland, describing the actions of the Puntland administration as being against the Federal Government. These remarks from the minister come at a time of heightened political tensions between the Federal Government and Puntland, particularly regarding issues such as the constitution, elections, and power-sharing in the country. As of now, Puntland has not officially responded to the allegations made by the State Defense Minister of Somalia.
