Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland state announced on Sunday that it would eliminate federal institutions and demand a full referendum on plans to reform the Horn of Africa country's constitution.
Somalia's parliament on Saturday approved several constitutional reforms, including a plan to return to universal suffrage in time for local elections in June. The move is opposed by the Puntland government.
What did the Puntland ministers decide?
“The Puntland government withdraws its recognition and confidence in federal agencies until a mutually acceptable and complete constitutional process is achieved,” the state Council of Ministers said in a statement.
As a result, “Puntland will have its own comprehensive government powers until a federal system of government is in place with a mutually recognized Somali constitution subject to a referendum,” the statement continued. .
What are the planned constitutional reforms?
Somalia's government says the changes are necessary to establish a stable political system.
These include a new one-person-one-vote electoral system, the introduction of direct presidential election, and the ability of the president to appoint the prime minister without parliamentary approval.
Somalia currently operates a complex clan-based indirect voting system that has been in place for more than half a century.
The fragmented system has led to internal conflict and exploitation by armed groups such as al-Shabaab.
The one-person-one-vote electoral system was abolished in 1969 when dictator Siad Barre took power.
The new plan has been criticized for concentrating power in the hands of administrative authorities.
Puntland rejects amendments
Authorities in the Puntland region in the country's northeast oppose the change.
The state accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of violating the constitution and losing legitimacy.
Puntland was one of several states that did not participate in the reform talks, and the state's president, Said Abdullahi Deni, did not sign the reform talks.
Last May, Puntland held its first direct municipal elections since 1969, but reverted to a clan-based voting system for January's parliamentary elections.
Somalia's former president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo also opposed the reform, saying the process of introducing a presidential system was illegal.
One of the many troubles for President Mohamud
After decades of conflict, Somalia has struggled with a bloody insurgency by al-Shabab jihadists and natural disasters, including severe drought that has left millions facing starvation.
The rift with Puntland is causing further headaches for Muhamud. Muhamud is also seeking to quell a resurgence in piracy and assert federal authority over the breakaway region of Somaliland, where he has agreed to lease a port to Ethiopia.
mm/rc (AFP, Reuters)
