Puntland presidents hold talks with Somali PM and foreign envoys

15 Nov 15, 2009 - 2:25:43 AM

The president of Somalia's Puntland State government has held talks with Somalia’s Prime Minster Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke, Somali lawmakers and foreign envoys in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

The talks were based on the recent disagreement between Somali Federal government and Puntland over a harmonised accord that would allow the two governments to work together under a federal umbrella

President Abdirahman Mohammed Farole received a delegation for Sweden and Italy who paid him a visit in his Hotel in Nairobi.

The president handed over a report on the accord to the Swedish Ambassador whose country holds the rotating European Union chairmanship.

On the other hand, President Farole received Somali PM who visited him in his hotel where they discussed about the disagreement.

President Farole underscored his full commitments to the accord, vowing not to back down of his government and people demands.

The meetings come after representatives of both sides failed to agree on certain issues about the accord which its first phase was signed by Somali PM and Puntland President on August 23 in central Somali town of Galkayo.

On Thursday, Puntland President Abdirahman Mohammed Farole held talks with his counterpart President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in Nairobi’s Panari Hotel where they both agreed to form a committee to harmonise the accord.

However, the next day, Somali Embassy in Nairobi hosted a meeting between the groups but they differed over certain issues, which Puntland regards as very important in reaching a consensus.


Puntland, a collection of seven Somali regions that declared itself as an autonomous state in 1998, maintains to remain in a federal Somalia.