(10/11/23) MOGADISHU – Britain’s Ambassador to Somalia, Mike Nithavrianakis, and Sweden’s Ambassador, Joachim Waern, have on Thursday called for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing electoral impasse in Puntland State of Somalia, marking a significant intervention amidst escalating tensions.
Ambassador Nithavrianakis, in a tweet, disclosed his conversations with key Puntland figures, including President Said Abdullahi Deni. He stressed the need for urgent dialogue with the opposition to peacefully address the electoral deadlock. Similar sentiments were extended to opposition leaders Mohamed Farole and Farah Alishire Jama, reinforcing the UK’s aspiration for a non-violent solution.
In support, Sweden’s Ambassador to Somalia, Joachim Waern, lauded Nithavrianakis’s initiative in a tweet, echoing Sweden’s advocacy for a peaceful settlement. Ambassador Waern appealed to President Deni and the opposition to compromise, underlining the criticality of peaceful, democratic elections.
These public statements follow Ambassador Nithavrianakis’s interview with Dalsan Television, where he articulated the UK’s perspective on Puntland’s tense political scenario. He referred to the recent clashes between government forces and opposition in Garowe as “regrettable,” acknowledging the profound divisions regarding the election schedule and methodology.
This diplomatic intervention by the UK and Sweden arrives at a pivotal moment in Puntland’s political narrative, amidst deep-seated disagreements involving President Deni, opposition factions, and clan leaders. It underscores the global community’s vested interest in a peaceful, democratic resolution to the electoral disputes in Puntland, aligning with the Somali people’s aspirations for stability and effective governance.
Halqabsi News
