Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mohamud Aidid Dirir, has made it clear that the regional state has no intention of participating in the national consultation meeting called by Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The meeting was intended to discuss the country’s overall political situation.
Mohamud Aidid stated that Puntland’s President, Said Abdullahi Deni, is too occupied with the ongoing fight against the ISIS-affiliated group in the region and has no time for political engagements with the federal government. He accused President Hassan Sheikh of meddling in Puntland’s affairs while neglecting critical national issues.
The minister further emphasized that Puntland will not engage in any discussions with the federal government until President Hassan Sheikh’s term ends. He accused the president of trying to mislead the international community by portraying Puntland as an obstructionist entity.
“They want to bring us together under the pretense of unity, but in reality, Hassan Sheikh wants to show the world that Puntland is the problem. Deni is leading a war, distributing military gear and medical supplies—he is a true military commander. Meanwhile, Hassan Sheikh is just playing games, acting as both President and Prime Minister, handling matters that should be left to others,” said Aidid.
When asked about the nature of the conflict between Puntland and the federal government, Minister Aidid asserted that the dispute is not about political positions but about fundamental national principles. He also confirmed that no negotiations are taking place between the two sides.
