N.O.R.F Posted January 19, 2008 Puntland President's Return to Garowe Marked By Protests Email This Page Print This Page Comment on this article Visit The Publisher's Site Garowe Online (Garowe) 17 January 2008 Posted to the web 18 January 2008 Garowe Locals in Somalia's semiautonomous state of Puntland staged protests Thursday in the region's administrative capital Garowe, marking President Mohamud "Adde" Muse's return. Protestors expressed their opposition to several major issues, including hyperinflation and the false currency scandal, rising insecurity and the Puntland administration's ineffective policy on Las Anod, a disputed town now controlled by the neighboring rival state of Somaliland, organizers said. The demonstrators walked through major roads in Garowe. But when they walked by the presidential palace, Pr esident Muse's security forces fired bullets into the air to chase them away, witnesses told Garowe Online. Some roads in Garowe were filled with rocks and burned tires, forcing major businesses to shut their doors in fear. Similarly, in the town of Qardho, north of Garowe, protestors demanded that the Puntland government take immediate action against criminals who import false currency into the region, causing hyperinflation and severely crippling the economy. Qardho police scattered protestors after firing into the air several times, according to witnesses. The exchange rate for the dollar has reached an all-time high in Puntland, according to money exchangers. A single U.S. dollar was exchanged for 26,000 Somali Shillings; in contrast, the rate stood at 21,000 Shillings last week. Yesterday, similar protests took place in the port city of Bossaso and Galkayo, both in Puntland. [READ: Protests against hyperinflation in major Puntland cities] Relevant Links East Africa Somalia Puntland government officials blame outside enemies for the financial crisis, arguing that there are groups who want to destabilize the region economically and create conflict between the administration and the public. According to officials, the long-term goal of such enemies is to destroy Puntland, the main domestic backer of Somalia's transitional federal government, which is attempting to restore central rule in the capital Mogadishu after 17 years of civil war. But critics say some government officials are directly involved in the false currency scandal, which is the main reason preventing them from arresting criminals responsible for the scandal and confiscating their equipment. http://allafrica.com/stories/200801180219.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A.J. Posted January 19, 2008 looks like he is not even wanted by his clan, shame,,,,, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
