Puntland Opposes `Makhir State'

Badhan, Somaliland, August 18, 2007 (SL Times) – The semi-autonomous regional state of Puntland (Majeerteenya) declared this week that the recent formation of `Makhir state’ by eastern Sanag residents is `a load of ho ha and a dream'.

In a press statement, The Puntland Minister of Information, Mr Abdirahman Banga in recent press statement strongly condemned last week's declaration of a new state in eastern Sanag. Mr Banga said that the people behind the declaration of Makhir State are dreaming because it doesn't exist.

The minister stressed that this area is 100% in the hands and control of Puntland, though the area recently saw bloody clashes between forces loyal to Puntland and Somaliland.

Soon after the minister’s statement, the self-appointed President of `Makhir' state, Mr Jibril Ali Salad, who used to be a Somaliland parliamentarian, spoke to the local media in response to the minister’s statements. Mr Salad said, "Puntland has no business to talk about our new state, and they are powerless to stop us, and do not have the ability to even come here".

"Makhir state is acknowledged by its people as a fully-fledged state independent of Puntland and Somaliland," added Jibril Ali Salad.

Makhir state was established last week in the Badhan district of eastern Sanag and its president is Jibril Ali Salad, who up to early this year was a member of Somaliland's parliament House of Representatives.

Somaliland’s government has not made any comment regarding this newly-established enclave inside its border.

Source: Somaliland Times