Somalia: 2009 Puntland presidential elections must be held

[Rebel-Lion]

SUNDAY EDITORIAL | Muse must do the same for the next president by ensuring the election is held on January 8, 2009, as promised.

No longer are locals and Diaspora Somalis surprised at the ineptitude and mismanagement skills of the ruling class in Puntland. This is a group of people who inherited a well-built political machine and turned it into a weak establishment on the edge of disorder. In 2005, when the incumbent administration of Gen. Mohamud "Adde" Muse came to power in a peaceful transition, the Puntland regions enjoyed enviable peace and political prestige among Somalia's various factions. The local government provided basic public services, such as reliable security, functioning ministries and a regulated economy. With Gen. Muse's ascension to power, Puntland slowly disintegrated one act after another, it seemed.

Now, with less than one year left in Muse's mandate, it seems Puntland officials are issuing contradictory statements regarding the 2009 presidential elections. President Muse himself was quoted by local press as saying that "not a single day" will be added after he completes his four-year term. A few days later, his deputy, Vice President Hassan Dahir Afqura told Radio Galkayo that, in his opinion, presidential hopefuls should not announce their candidacy at "a time when Las Anod is under occupation."

One begs to ask: What does the situation in Las Anod have to do with the Puntland presidential elections? Secondly, isn't the Muse administration to blame for Somaliland's military takeover of Las Anod?

Las Anod, the provincial capital of Sool, was under the full control of Puntland troops when the Muse-Afqura team came to power. Corrupt practices solidified during the Muse administration led to the ultimate loss of Las Anod. Unpaid members of the security forces are not willing to take a bullet in any part of the world. Pure and simple!

The fact remains that Gen. Muse, a former rebel, was sworn in as the President of Puntland in a smooth transition to power after former President Mohamed Abdi Hashi gracefully stepped down. Muse must do the same for the next president by ensuring the election is held on January 8, 2009, as promised.

Unfortunately, Puntland's next leader will not be given the golden opportunity Muse-Afqura received when they took power in the capital Garowe. The incoming president faces many challenges, including Las Anod, an economic crisis caused by counterfeit cash, rising insecurity including piracy and kidnappings, an influx of refugees and would-be migrants, and a general institutional disorder.

But the opportunities are also plenty once an effective ruler reigns in Garowe.

Garowe Online Editorial, editorial@garoweonline.com

[Shirib]

I like Cadde Muse, when he talks I get entertained.

Just wondering whats the criteria to be a Puntland citizen

[Rebel-Lion]

Cadde muse hasn't be a great president, but he has accomplished a few things. The Africaoil corp deal for one, and I can't fault for what happened in las canood considering a lot of puntland troops were in mogdisho.

[BABYGIRL123]

Why cant somali leaders be like mahamed abdi xaashi a true leader and step down if you loose, he lost mahamud garaad support to afqurac and cade i blame them for every thing that happened fat traitors should be locked up or chased away like c/yusuf chased them before.

[Executive]

Afqudac (PL Vice President) will probably replace Cadde Muse...


First man from Sanaag to become President.

[Shirib]

How do u become a Puntland citizen

[BABYGIRL123]

i support that engineer ina mire son from sweden i think he is wacays adan.

[Rebel-Lion]

Shirib

^It helps to be majerteen.

[Shirib]

[quote="Rebel-Lion"]Shirib

^It helps to be majerteen.[/quote]

Yea, I figured, but is it by clan or location. I would think Harti and Leelkase, but say the people who live and work there but aren't from those clans do they get to be Puntland citizens, and vote or are they just "guest workers"

[Executive]

[quote="BABYGIRL123"]i support that engineer ina mire son from sweden i think he is wacays adan.[/quote]




Isnt he from America, I thought he was just visiting Stockholm Sweden

You can not that Garaad Abshir is from Stockholm too lol

[BABYGIRL123]

i am not sure, but he did a tour of the U.s And is europe Now his dad and siblings live in columbus lakiin.

[COSTA]

Does Puntland still exists?

[Rebel-Lion]

[quote="Shirib"][quote="Rebel-Lion"]Shirib

^It helps to be majerteen.[/quote]

Yea, I figured, but is it by clan or location. I would think Harti and Leelkase, but say the people who live and work there but aren't from those clans do they get to be Puntland citizens, and vote or are they just "guest workers"[/quote]

They are considered puntlanders, but clan politics means those with the numbers and size will always rule state and that happens to be just one clan. The power struggle is between cusman maxamoud and cumar maxamoud subclans of majerteen, the others unfortunately have little say. I expect if cadde musse is replaced, it will be with another Cusman maxamoud leader though cadde muse doesn't even get along with those in he's subclan from what I've heard.

[MJ-Pride]

Anyone but fat Cadde Muse pelease. Cadde turned out to be Puntlands enemy No1. No wonder Outsiders love him. We need a hated man in the mold of Abdullahi Yusuf.

[Rebel-Lion]

MJ-Pride

Without cadde muse there would be no range(africaoil corp) deal, the man is greedy but he's also a business man and bossaso is thriving under he leadership.

He cant be held responsible for what happens in sool, the people there are not united and we both know the interest of puntland in SSC is not the people but the resources there.