Garowe Online (Garowe)
8 January 2009
In the upcoming hours, Somalia's Puntland region will elect a new leader who will guide the region's politics for the next four years.
There are nine candidates competing for the position of Puntland president, while seven candidates are running to become the region's second-in-command.
On Wednesday, all the candidates address the 66-seat Puntland Parliament, with traditional elders, community leaders and journalists present.
Gen. Adde Muse, the incumbent leader, addressed the MPs first and defended his four-year term as Puntland president, saying that his administration focused on economic development "but needs time to implement."
Another leading candidate, Gen. Abdullahi Ilkajir, told the lawmakers about his educational and military background, while promising to improve security and living standards.
Mr. Abdirahman Farole, the opposition leader, informed Puntland MPs about his educational qualifications, as well as senior positions he has held in government and commerce.
A young and exciting candidate, Nuradin Adan Dirie, pledged to make changes to the Puntland establishment and start a new chapter.
All seven VP candidates also addressed the Puntland MPs, with each candidate presenting his qualifications and policy plans if elected.
Leading candidates
The incumbent President Muse, Gen. Ilkajir and Mr. Farole are considered the leading candidates in today's presidential election.
These men hail from three different regions - Bari, Sanaag and Nugal, respectively - and are seen as the leading contenders for the region's top job.
President Muse, who remains deeply unpopular, is expected to survive the first of three rounds of voting - in part because the majority of candidates are relatively new faces in Puntland.
Mr. Farole, who is a PhD candidate in Australia, told the VOA Somali Service program Wednesday that he became the opposition leader after falling out with President Muse over governance issues.
"This administration [Muse] and I parted ways after a dispute," he said, while referring to a political disagreement that led to his resignation as Puntland's planning minister in early 2006.
He vowed to restore security "on land and at sea" against pirates, while promising to protect international organizations in Puntland.
On natural resources, Mr. Farole said: "Natural resources found in Somalia belong to all Somalis under an agreement, but the federal government alone cannot manage [natural resources]."
On rumors that Puntland might declare independence, the region's opposition leader categorically rejected such speculation, saying: "The people of Puntland never made such agreement for they agreed to always be part of Somalia."
On Somaliland, Farole said a "strategic plan" will be needed to remove Somaliland troops from disputed Sool and Sanaag regions, and eventually promote peaceful and neighborly relations with the Somaliland separatists.
Gen. Ilkajir, who hails from Sanaag region, told the VOA Somali Service that he will work on "security, economic development and public service."
On pirates, Gen. Ilkajir said "pirates have destroyed the economy in Puntland," while suggesting that the "way to stop human trafficking is to establish peace."
He praised Gen. Muse's administration for stopping the printing of counterfeit currency, but admitted that "false currency comes into Puntland from outside regions."
According to Gen. Ilkajir, Puntland can reestablish its financial system by creating a Bank of Puntland with strong financial foundations.
Lastly, Gen. Ilkajir was asked by the VOA Somali Service interviewer whether or not he is supported by ex-Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf.
After laughing at the question, Gen. Ilkajir said that "such rumors are spread by people who think it will damage my chances."
He stated Yusuf's comments that the former Somali leader will play a "neutral role" in the Puntland election.
"I have been here [in Puntland] for over five months. He [Yusuf] is not a campaigner for me. I have not met him face-to-face since he [Yusuf] returned to Puntland," Gen. Ilkajir said.
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