MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – The leader of the northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland Saeed Abdullahi Deni postponed to announce he is running for Somalia’s president in 2021 to middle in the upcoming parliamentary elections, Somali minister of planning said on Wednesday.
In a blistering attack on the regional president, Jamal Mohamed Hassan, a close ally of Somalia’s outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, stressed that the regional leader delayed an announcement of his presidential run and is planning to interfere in the selection of federal MPs from the region.
“Saeed Abdullahi Deni [the president of Puntland] postponed the announcement of his run for president to influence and meddle in the elections scheduled to take place in Puntland,” Somalia’s minister of planning Jamal Mohamed Hassan tweeted on Wednesday.
He added that regional traditional leaders had raised concern over “corruption, intimidation and meddling” the regional leader continues.
“Since he is a presidential candidate, Saeed Deni must keep his hands off issues concerning the elections, and immediately stop meddling in the work of technical committees,” the minister added.
“We will not again look on with silence the bold interference and danger posed to democracy and Puntland’s credibility.”
A spokesman for Puntland regional state slammed the statement by the Somali minister of planning as a “lie” and “wrong image” being sent to tarnish the reputation of the regional authorities.
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