Garowe, Puntland — the President of Puntland, Said Abdullahi Deni, along with Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugator, welcomed the newly appointed United Nations Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador James Swan, at the Garowe Presidential Palace.
This meeting marked the first encounter between the newly appointed UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, and the President of Puntland, Said Abdullahi Deni.
Key topics discussed included:
- Security, particularly addressing the violence stemming from land disputes, such as the latest conflict in Mudug, and counter-terrorism efforts.
- Democracy, with specific reference to the upcoming local council elections in three districts scheduled for July 23rd.
- Development and humanitarian aid.
- National priorities, such as:
- The fight against Al-Shabaab.
- Constitutional review.
- Upcoming elections.
- Collaboration between the Federal
Government and federal member states, especially Puntland and the administration based in Mogadishu.
Puntland accorded the high-level UN delegation a warm welcome and diplomatic honor.
Swan is not new to working with Deni; they have collaborated extensively on critical tasks essential to state-building in Somalia and Puntland.
He is well-acquainted with and understands the power and status of Puntland in the Horn of Africa, needing no introduction or briefing.
The meeting concluded with mutual understanding.
