Former Puntland President Abdiweli Ali Gaas and former Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid, PM to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud during his first stint at
Former Puntland President Abdiweli Ali Gaas and former Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid, PM to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud during his first stint at Villa Somalia, finally arrive Garoowe. At first, both weren’t expected in Garoowe, as they both lack any following in Puntland, in particular former President Gaas, who is accused of rampant corruption during his reign in the region.
Well-known for selfish politics, it was during Gaas’s presidency that Somaliland captured Tukaraq, and it was during that same period that the Garoowe-based Aaranjaan opposition group are reported to have made a 2% business partnership deal with a group led by Muse Bihi to turn Tukaraq into a dry port. A deal often reported during the Gaas Presidency that the DP World of UAE was involved in with the purpose of expanding Berbera Port operations and limiting that of Bossaso Port. During that period, as DP World rebuilt and expanded Berbera Port, Bossaso Port idled and commercial ships were running aground near the port because of excessive sand. Most Puntland businesses switched from Bossaso to Berbera Port to be taxed at Berbera once and again at Tukaraq.
Today, upon landing Garoowe, Gaas memes depicting his corruption and subsequent cancellation of the Germany financed Garoowe-Galkayo tarmac immediately took to the internet. The tarmac road project was funded by Germany, but because of rampant corruption by Gaas, it was cancelled and the road eventually disintegrated. It wasn’t till President Deni was elected that the fully disintegrated main highway connecting Galkayo to Garoowe was revamped and rebuilt.
On the other hand, during the Omar Abdirashid era as PM to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, similar to today’s PM Hamza, Omar was also then accused of never representing Puntland and Puntland interests and being a mere tool for Hassan Sheikh.
With such a revealing background, both Gaas and Omar are once again accused of being a tool for the turmoil President Hassan Sheikh has been unsuccessfully trying to brew in Puntland. Villa Somalia is also being reported to have facilitated their travel to Garoowe. They are also both accused of being close associates of the Garoowe-based armed Aaranjaan opposition group.
Upon arrival in Garoowe, neither of them, as expected, mentioned the death and the destruction the armed opposition directed at the city of Garoowe during their attack on Puntland parliament. And at least so far, it seems they are both treating the government and the opposition as equals, and both have shown no remorse for the senseless killing of Puntland security personnel by the armed Aaranjaan opposition group.
During their media briefing, when Gaas was asked why he came to Garoowe, he answered, “because of public demand we are here.” Based on public opinion, the public are overwhelmingly against the arrival of former president Gaas and former PM Omar Abdirashid, as they have both already been accused of trying to derail Puntland transition to democracy. But then again, both politicians are well-known for stretching the truth, to put it mildly, and never having the public interest at heart.
Daljir Media | Contributed to by Daljir staff in Garoowe and Nairobi
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