Puntland finally gets new constitution,Foreign airstrikes hit parts of Puntland’s Bari region

Puntland has finally adopted a new constitution after delegates meeting in Garowe town unanimously endorsed the proposed document.Several Somalia government officials and international diplomats attended a ceremony held in Garowe where the constitution was officially endorsed.Out of 478 delegates attending the assembly aimed at passing the document, 472 voted in favour of it while six delegates voted against the document.The delegates have been sitting for the last few days to chart ways forward to adopt the newly drafted regional constitution.The new constitution will be a step forward for the region as it ends the current clan based political system and instead adopt a multiparty system of politics.Speaking at the ceremony, the area regional president Abdirahman Mohamed Farole said the move to unanimously endorse the document is an opportunity for the region.Somalia’s deputy Prime Minister Abdiwahab Ugas Hussein praised the regional administration and its locals for standing together in achieving such recommendable goal.In its quest for a new constitution, Puntland brought together over 480 delegates from all walks of life last Sunday in effort to discuss and adopt a new constitution for the breakaway region.Wagardhac Clan puntlander leaders called the vote “a significant step forward for puntland democracy.

The semi-autonomous state of Puntland has adopted a multi-party system after a referendum for the new constitution was finalised on April 18, 2012. Representatives from Puntland’s regions, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and civil society came together at the parliamentary building in Garowe to approve the new constitution.The constitution was approved by representative elders from all regions of Puntland, the Diaspora and government representatives. The total number of voters was 478 with a majority of 98.7% voting in favour of the new constitution and 1.3% voting against it. The Chairman of the Puntland Electoral Commission (PEC), Mr. Mohamed Hassan Barre, announced the final results of the referendum exercise which was conducted last week. He refered to the majority vote as another positive step forward for Puntland’s new era of democracy as well as free and fair elections.Despite its preference by the majority, opposition leaders have expressed their displeasure regarding the additional year granted to the current president's administration in the new constitution. President Farole's mandate was expected to end on January 8th, 2013, but has been extended until 2014.“The exercise was conducted calmly with various delegations participating including the European Union (EU) representative, neighbouring countries and the TFG. The result was positive and we believe this new constitution will create the opportunity for people to elect their own leaders in future,” Mr. Mohamed Hassan Barre told Terror Free Somalia .

The president of Puntland, Abdirahman Farole, addressed the delegation and stated that Puntland had moved from “a tribal system to a multi-party system.”The senate elected to approve the new constitution consisted of 480 representatives. However, two representatives expected from the disputed regions of Sool and Sanaag did not attend or take part in the voting process.The newly approved constitution, made up of 141 articles, allows for a multi-party system, free and fair elections and is based on Islamic law. The voting exercise was not by secret ballot but hand-raising by present representatives.This is the first approval process for a constitution for the 14 year old Puntland administration which is willing to fall under the wings of a federal government of Somalia.According to sources, local leaders have recently been conducting meetings to prevent potential conflict due to suspension of elections after the approval of the long awaited constitution.

 

Foreign airstrikes hit parts of Puntland’s Bari region

Reports from Puntland administered Bari region say unknown warplanes have carried out nighttime attacks near Gubah settlement along the area coastline on Monday night.Two low flying warplanes dropped five bombs into an area just five kilometres from Gumbah settlement, according to a local government official in Gumbah, Gure Ali Omar.Omar said the airstrikes caused no casualties or damage but has instilled fear among local residents and fishermen.He added that the reason behind the aerial attack in the area still remains unknown, claiming that there were no piracy activities in this area.It was not yet clear who carried out the attacks.