MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Friday met the leader of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn state (SSC) Abdikadir Firdhiye at his office in the capital Mogadishu amid an escalating dispute with the northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland.
Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, Minister of Post and Telecommunications and other well-known politicians attended the meeting.
It is the first time Mohamud received the regional leader since he was chosen months ago after local clan forces managed to drive Somaliland troops out of key towns in the region, including Lasanod.
SSC authorities earlier accused Mohamud and his government of remaining silent on indiscriminate shelling by Somaliland authorities that had left dozens of people dead in Lasanod.
Analysts believe that the move by Villa Somalia to welcome SSC authorities in Mogadishu is aimed at pitting it against Puntland, which helped its fighters capture Somaliland’s largest base outside Lasanod town.
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