MOGADISHU: At least eight people were killed in violent clashes outside the parliament in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on Tuesday. The confrontation involved local security forces and armed militiamen loyal to opposition politicians, according to witnesses and police officials.
The incident unfolded in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, during a parliamentary session focused on deliberating changes to the local constitution. The opposition alleges that these amendments are an attempt by Puntland’s president to extend his tenure in office.
Abdiweli Hassan, a police officer in Garowe, confirmed the casualties, stating, “Around eight people were confirmed dead in the fighting and more than 10 others were wounded, including civilians.” The violence erupted when armed individuals supporting opposition politicians confronted security forces guarding the parliament and attempted to disrupt the session.
Hassan added that the opposition militiamen were eventually subdued, leading to a calm situation in the town. He emphasized that no individual would be allowed to act above the law.
Witnesses on the scene recounted the intensity of the fighting, with reports of heavy machine gun usage from both sides. Mohamednur Ali, one witness, described witnessing several dead bodies and wounded individuals, noting sporadic gunfire even after the initial clash. Nimo Adan, another witness, shared her experience of being caught in the crossfire and witnessing multiple fatalities.
Elections in Somalia’s Puntland Region
Earlier in May, Puntland conducted local elections, marking the first direct polls in Somalia in over 50 years, excluding the breakaway region of Somaliland. During that time, opposition politicians accused Puntland’s state president, Said Abdullahi Deni, of manipulating the election process and attempting to amend the constitution to prolong his mandate set to end in January next year.
In contrast, Somalia’s central government and four federal member states, excluding Puntland, reached an agreement in May to introduce a one-person, one-vote system for local elections in June of the following year. This move aimed to replace the longstanding clan-based indirect voting system in Somalia, which has been plagued by instability for decades.
However, the new plan also proposed parliamentary and presidential elections in the federal states, including Puntland, on November 30 of the same year, extending beyond the expiration dates of some mandates, including Deni’s term.
