re: puntland president said rrs is gun toting gang
BOSSASO, Somalia (Garowe Online) – During an interview with the BBC Somali Section, the president of Puntland commented on his relationship with an Australian exploration firm he signed a deal with last year. President Mohamud “Adde” Muse said that Range Resources, Ltd., is a “…jiri company and we chose it.” In the Somali language, the term “jiri” could refer to several things including “thief” or "gang member."
President Adde admitted that Range Resources is a “small company but it could get us what we want if [people] would stop obstacles.” The Puntland leader was responding to mounting internal criticism of his exploration deal with the junior company based in Australia.
The speaker of Somalia’s federal parliament, Sharif Hassan, is in Puntland on an official 4-day visit to ease tensions between the Puntland leadership and Somali prime minister Ali Muhammad Gedi. Premier Gedi has opposed the “Puntland Agreement” on legal grounds. Puntland president Adde Muse responded by severing his working relationship with the federal government.
Somalia's 14th attempt at forming a national government is founded on a federal formula and Puntland is the prototype federal state. Political factions across the country are keenly watching how the controversial issue of exploration rights is resolved.
