Garowe(Mogadishu24)-Puntland State has expressed its willingness to engage in open dialogue with the Federal Government of Somalia to resolve ongoing tensions, setting the condition that discussions take place in a transparent, public forum.
Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni made the statement on Monday evening during the closing ceremony of the Puntland Development and Research Center (PDRC) conference in Garowe.
"We are ready for talks. I told the elders that Puntland is prepared and has an argument. We want the discussion to happen publicly, not behind closed doors. If we are wrong, we must be corrected, and if we are right, we must be supported," President Deni said.
The announcement comes just two days before the National Consultative Council meeting scheduled for September 25 in Mogadishu, and follows months of escalating tensions between Puntland and the Federal Government.
The strain between the two administrations has intensified since the approval of four chapters of the provisional constitution amendment in March and allegations that Mogadishu has blocked development funds for Puntland.
IGAD Deputy Executive Secretary Mohamed Abdi Ware, who attended the meeting in Garowe, praised President Deni's call for a transparent dialogue, expressing optimism for constructive engagement from both sides.
"We are confident we will meet reciprocal goodwill and engagement with the Federal Government," Ware stated.
