Mogadishu (Alshahid) – Puntland state has strongly criticized the recent visit of Kenya’s Parliament Deputy Speaker Farah Ma’alim Mohammed to Las Anod town in Sool region terming the visit as “Interfering with the affairs of Puntland and entire war-torn Somalia”

In an interview with BBC Somali Service, Puntland’s Good Governance and State minister, Mr. Mohammed Farah Isse Gashan accused Ma’alim of interfering with the affairs of Puntland and entire war-torn Somalia and his meeting with the local people is seen as a way of fuelling animosity between Puntland and Somaliland.

“Farah Ma’alim is aware that Las Anod is unlawfully under the control of Somaliland and that most of its leaders, elders, elites and scholars are out of the town,” said Gashan adding that “Puntland government strongly condemns the visit of Kenya’s parliament deputy speaker Farah Ma’alim to some parts of Somalia, which as government, we see as direct interference into Somalia’s state of affairs. In particular, we us a government condemn his visit to the capital of Sool, Las Anod,”

Recently, Puntland has jailed people who are believed to have ties with Ethiopian rebel group of Ogaden National Liberation front.