Somalia: Fears of escalating tensions

SGGP 11/23/2023 06:21

Tensions have forced many families to flee their homes and some schools to close.

Several international organizations such as the African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia, the European Union and the United Nations have called on all parties to exercise calm and restraint to avoid escalating tensions in Garowe, the capital of Puntland state in northeastern Somalia, amid the mobilization of armed forces in the region.

Tensions erupted on November 19 over a dispute between Puntland government leader Said Abdullahi Deni and the opposition over amendments to the state’s basic law. The tensions escalated and led to the deployment of armed forces. The opposition accused Mr. Deni of deploying more military forces to Garowe and of seeking to amend the basic law to extend his term beyond January 2024.

Tensions have forced many families to flee their homes and some schools to close, while a debate on amendments to the primary law scheduled for the state parliament on November 20 has also been postponed.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/somalia-lo-ngai-cang-thang-leo-thang-post715307.html