(23-04-23) MOGADISHU – Villa Somalia, the presidential palace in Mogadishu, has initiated efforts to gather politicians from Puntland who are staunchly opposed to the region’s President Said Deni. The Somali Federal Government aims to create a united alliance amongst Puntland’s dissenting politicians in order to challenge Deni’s political stronghold.
According to reliable sources, Villa Somalia has set aside a special fund dedicated to the execution of this plan, with the goal of placing substantial political pressure on Puntland’s administration. This development comes in the wake of escalating tensions between the Deni government and Villa Somalia, culminating in severed ties due to unresolved political disputes.
The autonomous region of Puntland has been preparing for its upcoming local council elections scheduled for May 25, 2023, with a one-person-one-vote system. In recent months, Puntland has been actively conducting voter registration in anticipation of the elections, which will be followed by a presidential election.
Political analysts speculate that Villa Somalia’s move to form an opposition alliance against President Deni may be an attempt to disrupt order and gain leverage in the ongoing dispute and potentially influence the upcoming elections in Puntland. However, it remains to be seen how successful this strategy will be in altering the region’s political landscape.
