Somali president returns to Baidoa after Puntland stopover

BAIDOA, Somalia Mar 9 - Somalia’s transitional president returned to the temporary government capital at Baidoa on Thursday after making a two-day stopover in the northern enclave of Puntland.

President Abdullahi Yusuf and his federal government delegation left Galkayo after meetings with the Puntland leadership and were welcomed at the Baidoa airport by government officials.

Before his Puntland stopover, the Somali president visited Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates to seek financial support for his still-struggling interim government.

In Puntland, federal and regional officials discussed tax issues, constitutional reform and the upcoming National Reconciliation Conference, slated to open in the Somali capital Mogadishu on April 16. [ Full story]

President Yusuf did not speak to the media upon his arrival in Baidoa but promised to convene a press conference soon.

The transitional government is based in Baidoa since Mogadishu remains unstable, as insurgents continued to stage near daily attacks.

The Somali government is counting on the assistance of African Union peacekeepers to help secure Mogadishu.

More than 1,000 AU peacekeepers from Uganda have arrived so far but were subject to attacks since their arrival on Tuesday. [Full story]

Source: Garowe Online

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