Hiiraan Online
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL) - With calls to improve the strained relations between Somalia's central government and regional administrations grow, two regional leaders arrived in the Somali capital Wednesday to hold talk talks with the president.
Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, the president of Puntland semiotonomous region and his Jubbaland administration counterpart Ahmed Madobe are due to meet Somalia's top leaders as parts of efforts aimed at strengthening relations encumbered by recurrent political confusions.
Speaking to the reporters at the Mogadishu airport, Puntland leader said that during their week-long stay, their talks would focus on discussing issues of common interest with Somali government leaders.
Somalia's government tries to push for greater collaborations with the regional administrations trying to evade the central government's influence.
Puntland, a semiautonomous region in northern Somalia has its own force, government and income, while Jubbaland, a Kenyan-backed administration based in Kismayo town tries to reduce the government's influence after political bickering centered on the port's income with the Somali government.
Puntland has recently expressed outrage over the ongoing efforts to form a government-backed regional administration in central Somalia which tries to bring large swathes in the region, including Galkayo, a town which is partially ruled by Puntland under its control.
It says the new administration aims to annex parts of Puntland.