By Hafsa Mursal
GAROWE- United Nations Secretary-General Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia Catriona Laing has applauded Puntland State leader and his government for convening and holding the local municipal councils elections saying that this is a stark indicator of Somalia heading into the right direction.
Mrs. Catriona revealed this during a meeting with Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni on Saturday at the Presidential Palace in the regional capital Garowe.
Continuing her visits to #Somalia's Federal Member States, @UN Special Rep. @CatrionaLaing1 today visited #Garowe, where she had her first meeting with #Puntland's President @HESaidADeni to discuss a range of local and national issues.
Read more here: https://t.co/keRI3TN6V2 pic.twitter.com/dTw7GNLb1A— UNSOM (@UNSomalia) June 10, 2023
The meeting also featured discussions about the situation in the contested town of Lascanood and ways of bolstering the humanitarian assistance to the displaced people.
The UN Envoy also called on other Somali leaders to emulate Puntland and convene universal suffrage elections.
On his part, President Deni thanked the UN Special Envoy for the continued unwavering support of the United Nations in state – building process to the Horn of Africa Nation.
1/5Madaxweynaha Dowladda Puntland Mudane @HESaidADeni, ayaa maanta Madaxtooyada ku qaabilay Ergayga cusub ee Qaramada Midoobey ee Soomaaliya Danjire Catriona Laing iyo wafdi ay hoggaaminaysay.
Ergayga Qaramada Midoobey ee Soomaaliya Catriona Laing, pic.twitter.com/imggSR7hpA
— Puntland State House (@Plstatehouse) June 10, 2023
Puntland State held landmark local municipal elections on May 25th, the first direct ballot in Somalia more than five decades since former late President Siyad Barre seized power in 1969.
During the meeting president Said Abdullahi Deni was accompanied by the Vice President of the Puntland Government Mr. Ahmed Ilmi Osman Karaash, Ministers of Planning, minister of Interior, minister of Finance, minister of Health, Minister of State for the Presidency and Presidential Advisors.
