Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the former President of Somalia (2009–2012), claimed that he put money into the formation of the Khaatumo movement in 2012. He said that the process for the formation of the North East Administration bypassed elders. Sharif has been accused of making the comment to gain the 40-plus votes of Dir MPs and Senators from the Somaliland administration in the upcoming Somali presidential elections.
Sharif leads the Council of Salvation, which is split into two groups. A major wing of the Alliance made up of Hawiye, Darod and Digil & Mirifle persuaded Villa Somalia to make concessions on the controversial amendments to the Provisional Constitution. The Council of Salvation faces another major setback after the President of Puntland State of Somalia Said Abdullahu Deni this week informally declared his candidacy for the 2026 presidential elections.
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and his wing have reportedly backed the e-visa regulations that oblige airline operators to ensure foreigners hold an e-visa when travelling to Somalia. Somaliland administration, a secessionist administration, rejected the e-visa, but people travelling to Hargeisa on Flydubai or Ethiopian were denied boarding without showing an e-visa issued by the Federal Government of Somalia.
Somalia is likely to return to indirect elections in 2026 after a wing of the Council of Salvation broke the deadlock over the constitutional amendments. MPs and Senators will be selected by constituencies in Federal Member States including the North East State. There are plans that Somaliland MPs and Senators could be selected in Las Anod, the administrative capital of the North East State of Somalia.
The North East Administration came into existence after a two-month-long conference to discuss the constitution and selection og MPs for the new Federal Member State. The Federal Ministry of Interior oversaw the process in line with the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
© Puntland Post, 2025