Puntland VP assumes regional Presidency

Puntland Vice President Ahmed Elmi Osman Karaash has announced that he has taken over as President of Puntland, following Said Abdullahi Deni’s arrival in Mogadishu to vie for the Presidency of the Somalia Republic.

In a press statement issued Wednesday night, Karash said that if President Deni could not temporarily fulfill his constitutional duties, he would have temporarily handed over all his constitutional duties and responsibilities.

He added that Puntland could not enter into a constitutional crisis at this time and instructed all Puntland institutions to abide by the Constitution and the laws of Puntland. On Thursday, Karash chaired Puntland’s weekly cabinet meeting.

Relations between the two leaders have been fraught in recent months. However, this latest announcement can potentially open up a new rift between Deni and Karash.

Said Deni announced his candidacy for Somalia president on March 19 and ignored calls from politicians for him to resign and hand over power to his deputy.