WDM BREAKING NEWS

ONE DAY IS SAID TO BE A LONG TIME IN POLITICS.

and THREE MONTHS MONTHS REMAING IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE OF CURRENT PUNTLAND GOVERNMENT ARE LIFETIME TO HOLD AN ELECTION.

Puntland Administration can feasibly conduct the proposed State Presidential and Parliament Elections on One Person One Vote exercises, given the bulk of legislative bills and electoral laws required are already in place, and over 400,000 voters are registered with the option of registering more voters throughout the regions.

In all probability, districts opposing even holding District Council Elections could boycott the General Elections as well, instigating the rest of state residents to by-pass Nugaal Region again. Thus, Nugaal Region risks forfeiting its allocated Members in Puntland State House of Representatives. If that were to happen, Puntland Capital City of Garowe would have no representation in Puntland Parliament. From there, chain reactions would ensue that could compel relocation of Capital City elsewhere because of potential apperance of clan-based insurgency n the Middle Region of Puntland against the State, followed by attempts to suppress these destabilizing armed rebellion by Puntland forces from Bari and Mudugh Regions with the assistance of forces from SSC, the so-called “Hiil Walaal” army to deter existential security threat to Puntland State.

When the dust of such potential conflict settles, residents of Nugaal Region would be required to renegotiate for a political space and participation again in Puntland governance structures, but probably Garowe would lose its Capital Status as a result.

Let us think now before we leap into the unknown.

(This WDM breaking news has been updated since posting).

BOSASO REPORT

According to residents and eyewitness reports, the Red Sea Port City of Bosaso is coping with uneasy peace as two opposing Puntland forces are facing each other, each one monitoring the other as who would start shooting first. In the mix, are Bari clans and subclans getting ready for the next clashes by stockpiling arms and ammunition. Certain quarters of the Port City are no go at night. Regional authorities are worried and their security resources are no match with the arsenal of the confronting forces there. City commercial activities are greatly impacted and there is capital flight to Hargeisa and Mogadishu. Consumer confidence is at lowest level amid insecurity, worsened by high inflation on basic goods and energy.

Puntland Government shows no signs of urgency to seriously address and fundamentally resolve the impendimg security crisises in Bosaso and Galkayo. It looks that the recent Federal Elections had taken life and initiative out of current Puntland political leadership. The situation is worsened by confusion and news blackouts. Nobody knows what is happening in Puntland. Leadership is reportedly isolated. Titled traditional elders are either compromised, absent from the country or part of the insecurity in Bari and Mudugh.

Barring effective government intervention, Puntland stability enjoyed for a long time in the past could be in jeopardy.