Puntland

But Puntland's state president Said Abdullahi Deni did not attend the meeting as the region voted.

For more than a week police and the military have been battling the protesters in Laascaanood, a town in Somaliland’s east which is disputed between Somaliland and neighbouring Puntland, one of Somalia’s semi-autonomous regions.

It’s time for President Deni to come to his senses and decide what legacy he wants to leave for Puntland.

The concerns grew following tension over a long-simmering dispute between the leaders of the federal government of Somalia and the northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland.

The latest fighting broke out on February 6 in Las Anod, which is situated on a key trade corridor and is claimed by both Somaliland and neighbouring Puntland, a semi-autonomous state of northeastern Somalia.

However, MP Faqi questioned how President Mohamud plans to resolve his dispute with Puntland and Jubaland, which skipped the election talks in Mogadishu.

Puntland is not participating, amid a political dispute with the central government, and Somaliland has long asserted an independence that has not been recognized internationally.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, for instance, the Puntland federal state leadership complained that authorities were formulating a new electoral law without adequate consultation.

It also said that Somalia's port city of Bossaso in Puntland state was the origin of most of the illegal payments to arms sellers in Yemen.

The minister's remarks come amid political tension between Puntland and the Federal Government of Somalia that has been raging on since President took power in 2017.

The two delegations also conducted a joint visit to the Tilmaame Youth Centre, which is run Puntland Youth Peer Network.

For example, the de facto independent Somaliland and the autonomous region of Puntland have both welcomed the UAE into their territories despite souring relations between the FGS and UAE over the latter’s attempt to bribe FGS officials.

In early 2018, heavy fighting around the town of Tukaraq in Sool led to the advance of the Somaliland military and retreat of Puntland forces.

Pro-IS militants split from al-Shabab in October 2015 and later occupied Qandala, a key location in Bari Region under Puntland State Administration in northern Somalia since 2016.

Puntland authorities must provide a fair and transparent legal process.

Puntland had also prepared accomodation for the Premier.

Tensions between Somaliland and Puntland have increased over the past two years, with risks of further instability and militarisation if not adequately addressed.

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) handed over 12 fishing vessels with inboard diesel engines to Puntland State authorities on Wednesday.

We thank you FAO and the European Union for their longstanding and continued support to develop our fisheries sector," said Abdiqani Gelle Mohamed, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Puntland State of Somalia.

And attacking Somaliland directly will attract the International community’s attention, so using Puntland as the launch pad is more logical.