Puntland's Said Deni sworn in for second term in office

Record ID: 1762896

  • Title: Puntland's Said Deni sworn in for second term in office
  • Date: 25th January 2024
  • Summary: ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF ATTENDANTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Somali) PRESIDENT OF PUNTLAND, SAID ABDULLAH DENI, SAYING: “I make this promise before you, that I will work for the unity of Puntland and its people. I also promise to work for unity of Somali people in togetherness. As Puntland we shall open negotiations to solve all internal problems
  • Embargoed: 8th February 2024 16:53
  • Keywords: Deni Said Elections Puntland Somalia
  • Location: GAROWE, PUNTLAND, SOMALIA
  • City: GAROWE, PUNTLAND, SOMALIA
  • Country: Somalia
  • Topics: Africa,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA002529825012024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland state inaugurated Said Abdullahi Deni as president on Thursday (January 25) for the second time following elections earlier this month.
    His victory comes after regional forces and fighters loyal to the opposition fought fierce street battles in Garowe, Puntland's capital last year after he sought to make changes to the constitution that would have introduced one-man-one-vote elections.
    However Deni later declared that the next leader would be chosen according to the existing system by the state's 66 lawmakers, who are themselves selected by clan elders.
    Deni garnered 45 votes out of a total of 66, beating 10 other candidates vying for the position through the clan based ballot. A former minister of planning and international cooperation in the Federal State of Somalia, he also unsuccessfully ran for president of the country two times.
    Even though Puntland is rich in natural resources such as gas and oil, they have not yet been exploited due to violence in the region.
    Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was present at the inauguration said they should work together for the unity of Somalia.
    Mohamud's government is currently trying to block Ethiopia's deal to lease a port in Puntland's neighbouring breakaway region of Somaliland.
    (Production: Abdirahman Hussein, Mukelwa Hlatshwayo)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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