Puntland has expressed deep concern over the worsening political and security situation in the regional states of Southwest and Galmudug, accusing the Federal government of interfering in the internal affairs of these regional governments. Puntland’s Vice President, Mr. Ilyas Lugator, has expressed his concern over the deteriorating situation in Baidoa, where fierce clashes have erupted between troops. He described the clashes as being between members of the Southwest State security forces and other troops who have links with the Federal Government. He disclosed that this situation is hindering progress and rebuilding efforts in the state. The Vice President called on the people of Southwest State to maintain peace and protect the lives of the people and government institutions. He warned that the political dispute could lead to destruction. Additionally, the Vice President spoke about the situation in Galmudug, stating that Puntland is interested in the stability and development of that administration as they are neighbors. He expressed concern over actions that could affect the system of governance in Galmudug state and called for the dispute to be resolved through dialogue and inclusive elections. Mr. Lugator accused the President of Somalia, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, of causing political turmoil and warned that if a resolution is not reached, the stability of Somalia as a whole will be at risk. He called on politicians and the Somali people to cooperate in saving the country’s government and support a mutually satisfactory election process to avoid further political and security crises. The Minister of Education of Puntland’s autonomous region in Somalia, Mr. Fu’ad Abshir Ahmed, also accused the Federal Government of hindering efforts to strengthen cooperation in education and support from the international community and development agencies. The education minister disclosed that Puntland has been trying to establish cooperation and understanding with the education ministry at the Federal level in order to improve the administration and management of education. However, an agreement could not be reached on these matters. Fu’ad Abshir noted that the development of education and the protection of education rights require cooperation among all levels of government, including Federal, regional, and local levels. He emphasized that without full cooperation among government agencies, education goals cannot be achieved. He also stated that they have refrained from publicly addressing the existing gap for a long time, but now it is necessary to bring these issues to light.
