(20-06-23) GAROWE — A confrontation ensued between Puntland government forces and the opposition coalition on Tuesday. Reports indicate that the skirmish, which arose following a controversial parliamentary debate regarding the Puntland constitution, has resulted in at least one death and several injuries.
The dispute flared up in the wake of a parliamentary session in which a proposal to alter Article 46 of the Puntland Constitution was tabled. This alteration aims to consolidate the region’s political parties into five entities, a move that has drawn criticism from various quarters. The proposal, however, found favour in the Puntland House of Representatives, with 34 out of the 35 members present endorsing the changes.
Puntland president Said Abdullahi Deni, finds himself at the epicentre of the tumult, pitted against the Puntland opposition coalition in the escalating conflict. As gunfire echoes across different neighbourhoods of Garowe, residents have been urged to remain indoors until further notice.
While the parliamentary proceedings continued, the battle outside the chambers intensified. The conflict primarily involves security forces loyal to the Puntland government, and a group vehemently opposing the proposed constitutional changes. The echoes of dissent from the opposition appear to have culminated in a violent confrontation, marking a significant escalation of the political strife in the region.
This intensifying conflict raises questions over the stability of the Puntland region, with the potential ramifications of these constitutional amendments yet to be fully understood. As the political landscape grows increasingly fraught, the people of Puntland find themselves caught in the crossfire of an escalating power struggle.
