Calm resumes in Garowe after a day of deadly clashes

Calm has resumed in Puntland state’s capital Garowe on Wednesday following a day of deadly clashes between government forces and soldiers loyal to opposition figures over constitutional amendments.

At least 27 people were killed and 30 injured, mostly soldiers, following Tuesday violence.

The fighting started near the parliament building in the early hours of Tuesday after lawmakers convened to debate on an amendment to the constitution and voting system which opposition leaders vehemently oppose.

Opposition figures accuse Puntland’s leader, Said Abdullahi Deni, of manipulating the constitution to engineer his term extension ahead of planned January elections in the regional state.

Senior Somali leaders and political figures including Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo have called for calm.

Local elders have called for the debate on the voting system to be postponed and for talks to be opened between the rival sides.

For its part, UNSOM called for “the immediate de-escalation of tensions and a return to calm”, while urging “all political stakeholders to engage in dialogue as the only avenue to address and resolve differences.”