Puntland to contribute 3000 soldiers to Nat’l Army, another deal signed

Federal Government of Somalia and the northeastern state of Puntland have signed a bilateral agreement after a two-day long rigorous talks in the state capital of Garowe on Sunday, Garowe Online reports. Puntland agreed to contribute 3000 troops to Somali National Army (SNA) in step towards inclusive and capable fighting force as federal government is facing conundrum in the growing deadly rampages by Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab militants, largely in central and southern Somalia. Under the new deal that comes in less than half a year, the two sides said, from now on they have a unified standpoint on the country’s framework for action (vision 2016), unveiling a follow-up conference that will bring National Government and Federal Member States together in April in Garowe. “Parties acknowledged the role of Federal Member States in the issuance of laws ahead of parliamentary approval and nomination of national level commission members as per the Federal Constitution,” stated the bilateral agreement. Somalia Federal Government and Puntland also agreed on the honoring of two-party agreement signed by former Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed and Puntland President on October 14, 2014. Prime Minister Sharmarke and Puntland leader Ali witnessed the signing ceremony at Health Ministry headquarters. In the preceding deal, the two sides proposed parliamentary oversight committee to oversee Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC), with Mudug region which has long been a bone of contention split into North and South. Meanwhile, insiders tell GO that Prime Minister Sharmarke cut short his three-day visit to Puntland for official invitation by United Arab Emirates (UAE).  –