Protests against Puntland

[neocon_2007]

Protests against hyperinflation in major Puntland cities
BOSSASO, Somalia Jan 16 (Garowe Online) - Hundreds of protestors poured into the streets in Somalia's Puntland region on Wednesday to demonstrate against hyperinflation, which has severely impacted the price of goods.



The largest market in the port city of Bossaso, Puntland's commercial capital, was shut down today as traders and consumers alike took to the streets, demanding that the Puntland government do something about false currency that has devalued the Somali Shilling in the region.



The dollar exchange has reached new heights in the region, negatively affecting the flow of commerce. One dollar was exchanged for 26,000 Shillings today, according to Bossaso traders.










Bossaso: Puntland's commercial capital
Last week, the exchange rate stood at 21,000 Shillings. Residents told Garowe Online the most impacted goods include the price for food and gas.



A group of traders met with Puntland officials in Bossaso midday today to express their anger with the continued flow of false currency into the region, sources said.



Haji Bakin, Puntland's deputy security minister, told reporters after the meeting that "some Puntland businesspeople" are directly responsible for printing and importing the false Shillings.



He warned that such businesspeople will be arrested and their property confiscated if they continue their illegal activities.



Puntland police chief Col. Abdiaziz Ga'amey said some protestors, mostly youth, attempted to take advantage of the demonstration in Bossaso by throwing stones and placing objects along major roads.



Bossaso police forcefully dispersed such crowds, although peaceful demonstrators were allowed to continue their protest, sources said.



Some of the Bossaso businesses reopened Wednesday afternoon, although the money exchange centers remained closed.



But a decree issued by the Puntland government later today banned all public protests in Bossaso until further notice, a government news agency reported.



In Galkayo, the second-largest city in Puntland, a similar protest took place today but soon turned violent, according to witnesses.



Galkayo protestors took to the streets demanding immediate action against criminals responsible for the hyperinflation, but some protestors "were armed," witnesses said.



Police sources said the armed protestors fired on officers trying to clear off the roads, sparking off a brief exchange of gunfire with police.



Some Galkayo businesses were damaged in the exchange.



Casualty reports could not be immediately verified, but Galkayo residents said the city is tense.



The Puntland government has been ineffective in taking tough measures against those responsible for the false Shillings. Independent sources who spoke with Garowe Online say government officials are unlikely to take action and are partially to blame, because they are "involved" in the false Shillings affair themselves.



In July 2007, protestors threw rocks at the presidential palace in Garowe, the region's administrative capital. Even then, they were demonstrating against hyperinflation.



Source: Garowe Online

[cabdallah252]

Last time I went to puntland most traders only accepted US Dollar notes made after the year 2000

Id say develop a new currency like somaliland did with high security features and pegged it to the euro or gold to stop inflation

The Puntland Dollar, with Abdullahi yusuf's face on it loool

[neocon_2007]

Wtf somali shilling is still in circulation, but puntlands doing a great job flooding the counterfit paper down South. Puntland needs to declare soverignty and become its own nation.

[cabdallah252]

[quote="neocon_2007"]Wtf somali shilling is still in circulation, but puntlands doing a great job flooding the counterfit paper down South. Puntland needs to declare soverignty and become its own nation.[/quote]


i did not even use the somali shilling at all last time lol...the money is so huge and stinks, US dollar can get you far

the somali shilling is only used by the poor etc

[galia]

[quote="neocon_2007"]Wtf somali shilling is still in circulation, but puntlands doing a great job flooding the counterfit paper down South. Puntland needs to declare soverignty and become its own nation.[/quote]

I would welcome that, it would be best 4 somalia for puntland to exit.