Monday, July 08, 2013

Somalia: Jubaland President Arrives to Big Welcome in Puntland

Somalia: Jubaland President Arrives to Big Welcome in Puntland

6 JULY 2013

Garowe — Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole welcomed the new president of Jubaland State Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) at Garowe airport on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.

President Madobe's plane first landed at Abdullahi Yusuf International Airport in Galkayo city of Puntland, where President Madobe and his delegation visited over 50 persons receiving medical treatment at hospitals in Galkayo. The persons were wounded in last month's fighting in the southern port of Kismayo between Jubaland forces and a militia loyal to former warlord Col. Barre Hirale.

Speaking in Galkayo, Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe thanked the people and government of Puntland and the people of Galkayo for helping wounded persons with medical assistance.

"Puntland is the mother of Jubaland," said President Madobe, who was received in Galkayo by Puntland officials, including Health Minister Ali Abdullahi Warsame, Mudug Governor Mohamed Yusuf Tigey and Galkayo Mayor Ahmed Ali Salad.

Puntland welcomes Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, Garowe airport July 6, 2013

Puntland leaders received President Madobe and his Jubaland delegation at Garowe airport, including President Farole, Vice President Abdisamad Ali Shire and Parliament Speaker Abdirashid Mohamed Hersi. The delegation led by the Jubaland president was saluted from the Puntland Guard of Honor at the airport.

The delegation was escorted to Puntland State House and addressed the public at Garowe Square.

President Madobe thanked the Puntland leadership for the welcome, saying that Puntland "has a history of building and defending the unity of Somalia and the liberation struggle for Somalia's independence".

The Jubaland delegation arrived in Garowe for talks with the Puntland government and to attend the state funeral for the late Puntland traditional elder Bogor Abdullahi Bogor Muse (King Kong), whose burial will be held on Sunday in Qardo and is to be attended by high-profile leaders.

Jubaland State of Somalia, comprising of Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo regions in southern Somalia, emerged at the conclusion of a months-long Jubaland Conference where delegates adopted an Interim Jubaland State Charter and elected Ahmed Madobe as the first president on May 15 for a three-year term.

Somali Federal Government has rejected the outcome of the Jubaland conference and the election of Ahmed Madobe. Last week, the Somali Federal Government accused Kenyan-AMISOM peacekeepers of involvement in Kismayo battles, a charge denied by the Kenyan government.

GAROWE ONLINE

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