Dusting off their resumes Gaas and Omar stand firm for the old clan system and fly off to meet President Hassan Sheikh

With no meeting of Puntland traditional leaders taking place, as expected, Abdiweli Ali Gaas and Omar Abdirashid finally revealed their hand and presented a conflicting proposal to help, as they say, stave off further bloodshed in Puntland.

To begin with, again as expected, in all their ‘proposal,’ they didn’t hold responsible the perpetrators who last attacked the Puntland Parliament on June 20, attacked Puntland State University (PSU) on February 6, and then on May 15 attacked a convoy transporting voting ballots near Garoowe International Airport. No accountability for the dead and the wounded Puntland security officers. No accountability for the death of civilians and the destruction of public and private properties. Their ‘PROPOSAL’ simply transpired as a result of their political ambitions, an ambition that seeks from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud the nomination as Somalia’s next Prime Minister. And if not a Prime Minister, perhaps with President Hassan’s blessings, to run for the Puntland presidency. It was a simple political calculation for Abdiweli Ali Gaas and Omar Abdirashid, Gaas in particular – a political calculation that has solely his interest at heart, but not the interests of the people of Puntland and the people of SSC.

In their proposal, Gaas and Omar are for democracy in Puntland, but then few sentences down, they are against Puntland democratization. And no, they are not for a constitutional amendment that enshrines democracy and one-person-one-vote in Puntland Constitution for all to witness, but they are for a ‘political agreement’ that serves their short-term political interests. In their media briefing, when asked why such a conflicting proposal, Gaas responded, “we need political agreement now, but not constitutional amendment.” In other words, no to democracy, no to public demands, no to political campaigns based on one’s record and political history, but yes to the corrupt clan system, where votes are bought by the highest bidder.

Ismail Haji Warsame of Warsame Digital Media (WDM) put it succinctly, “their recommendations lack sound judgment on real and potentially contentious issues of the day.” On SSC, Ismail Warsame emphasizes that “they ignored the fact that SSC Regions are struggling to secure their own liberation from Somaliland repression, and the fate and destiny of the residents are still in limbo.” He continues that instead of coming up with creative solutions, they are now “adding fuel to an already volatile situation.”

But two questions remain that the people of Puntland have been asking each other today: “In a wartime, why are Gaas and Omar Abdirashid trying so hard to make the situation untenable for President Deni and for the people of SSC? Is it mere political calculation based on selfish political ambitions or is Villa Somalia deeply embedded in the plan?

Again, noting their reckless proposal with the potential to destabilize Puntland, Ismail Warsame gives the two politicians a sound advice to take to heart. On SSC, he tells them to “Understand the current situation that people in the entire region are deeply engaged in the self-defense of the residents of SSC and that they do not need sidetracks from their main objective.” And on Puntland leadership, Ismail guides them to show maturity and “encourage and commend the current Puntland Administration for making big strides in Puntland State’s long-sought elusive transition to democracy.”

After presenting their proposal in Garoowe, Gaas and Omar immediately flew off to Mogadishu for a meeting with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Daljir Media | Contributed to by Daljir Garoowe and Daljir Mogadishu staff members