PRESS STATEMENT 23/2019

Mogadishu – The United Nations envoy to Somalia today met with President Said Abdullahi Deni and members of his cabinet in Garowe, the capital of Puntland state, as part of his regular engagement activities with the leaders of Somalia’s Federal Member States.

“Today’s visit provided another welcome opportunity for me to hear first-hand from Puntland’s leadership about the progress being made with its ambitious agenda”, said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan.

Mr. Swan congratulated Puntland’s leaders for the recent successful investment conference and the start of the Ethiopian Airlines flights to Garowe, noting that these developments were positive signals of economic revival in Puntland. President Deni and team also described their preparations for a new Puntland Development Plan and the work of the Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC).  

“These are solid examples of the Puntland Government’s commitment to economic and social development, and to democratization, which we applaud,” said Mr. Swan. 

Regarding national issues, the UN Special Representative encouraged all Somalis to work together toward achieving consensus on issues of critical importance, such as completion of the constitutional review, organization of national parliamentary elections, achievement of debt relief, and advancement of security gains against Al-Shabaab.  He called for the resumption of cooperation between the Federal Government and all Federal Members States as a matter of urgency.

“Puntlanders are rightly proud of the progress they have made in the past 21 years, since the establishment of their constitution, a first among Federal Member States," Mr. Swan said. "I am confident that, under President Said Deni’s leadership, Puntland can play a constructive role in advancing national priorities."