Somalia’s oil-rich regional head reveals run for ’22 presidency

Bloomberg

The head of Somalia’s oil-rich Puntland, Said Abdullahi Deni, announced that he’s running for Somalia’s 2022 presidency, following a meeting with
new members of parliament elected from that region.
The leader, who is a critic of incumbent president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, made the announcement in Garowe, the state’s regional capital in a televised speech.
“I’m running for Somalia’s 2022 top seat. I have the quality and passion to deliver. My main focus is to remove the incumbent president Mohamed Farmajo democratically,” said Deni, referring to the country’s president by his other name.
Puntland, a semi-autonomous northeastern region of the low-income nation in East Africa, is believed to be rich in oil and gas.
It has also been battling an insurgency by militant groups since 2010, including the IS in Somalia and al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate.
“We should be united against the incumbent; in which the country will not be safe under his hands again if he is re-elected,” said Deni, who is seen as one of the front-runners, with presidential elections for the position due to be held on March 31.
Around 90% of Somalia’s new MPs have been elected so far, according to the country’s elections commission, after a delayed lower house election process that is due to conclude at the end of the month.