1. It was well attended by who is who in Somalia’s political elite at Federal and member-state levels, including the President of the Federal Republic, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

2. Puntland State has showcased the outcome of its recent presidential election, despite known imperfections and initial election violence in Garowe involving One Person One Vote. It was agreed by all attending, however, that it was comparatively commendable exercise of democracy as Puntland State has set the record to be an exemplary for the rest of Somalia.

3. Speeches by attending leaders turned out mainly to be indirect and soft-spoken debates on how Somalia could move forward on issues of governance, constitution-making and unity to address its national challenges, amidst threats to its security and sovereignty by Alshabab and neighboring Ethiopia.

4. There were subtle electioneering speeches, though, by some former federal prime ministers, Hassan Ali Khayre and Hussein Rooble, in particular, and presidents of Federal Member States like AbdulAsis Laftegreen and Ahmed Abdi Kariye (Qoor Qoor). These electioneering speeches were both for national and regional consumption with some heads of Federal Member States keen to take cues from rare re-election of a sitting leader as President Said Abdullahi Deni did.

5. UN and EU chiefs/representatives present at ceremony expressed their usual Mudane, uninspiring commitment to support Puntland/Somalia.

6. Ministerial representatives from Kenya and Ethiopia present avoided the thorny issue of Ethio-Somali dispute on Red Sea access by Ethiopia through unconventional means.

7. Puntland President Said A Deni pledged to commit himself to work towards achieving Puntland State unity and cooperation with the Federal Government.

8. Noticeable was absence of Jubaland State from this important gathering of Somalia’s leaders, for whatever reasons.

9. In assessment of what has transpired here and the fact that the ceremony was well attended by most leaders of Somalia, the event showed the undeniable political weight of Puntland State in shaping up The New Somalia.

10: And on a light note, remarks by Aden Dualle, Hussein Rooble and AbdulAsis Laftegreen were full of humor and figurative language, attracting applause from the audience.

Postscript

In his remarks, former Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi continued to stock his usual beat of being the First Minister installed, starting debate on transitional TFG Charter while demanding to be recognized as such in protocol, while former Prime Minister Saacid Shirdoon complained about lack of empathy for the plight of residents in Gedo affected by floods.

[This article has been updated after posting].