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PM Sharmarke and Abdiwali Gas: Eying an opportunity to See Obama

July 23, 2015July 23, 2015
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WardheerNews ( WDN) – President Barack Obama’s important Africa visit to Kenya and Ethiopia, his fourth to the continent since Obama came to power is creating a buzz.

cumar iyo Cabdiwali
Omer Abdirashid and Abdiwali

Somalia’s PM Omar A. Sharmarke and Puntland President Abdiweli Gas are feverishly and secretly campaigning to meet with the visiting American president, according to reliable information received by WardheerNews.

Obama is coming to the region primarily to strengthen bilateral ties, between Sub-Saharan Africa and America, staving off corruption, developing strong democratic foundation, cooperating in the realms of counterterrorism, economic, social and health matters.

Obama is also expected to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit to be held in Nairobi on July 24th.

PM Sharmarke and President Gas have recently concluded talks in Garowe, between the Federal Government, Puntland and Jubbaland. The points of disagreements center on Puntland’s fierce opposition to the newly formed Galmudug State and Mogadishu’s unilateral appointment of two Commissions (the constitution and borders committee) without consulting with the regional governments, particularly Puntland.

Despite the two officials’ deadlock in talks, they are eagerly lobbying with Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Amina Mohamed, to get an opportunity to meet with Obama.

There are unconfirmed reports that the Kenyan leaders are trying to exploit the political impasse between Nairobi and Mogadishu regarding the disputed coastline borders between the two countries.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta chats with his Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed during the two-day meeting of SADC leaders in Pretoria
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta chats with his Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed

Nairobi wants desperately to gain support from Sharmarke and Gas in Kenya’s bid for oil drilling rights of what Somalia believes on their territory. It was, after all, Sharmarke who, in 2009 while PM under President Sharif Ahmed, signed an agreement with Nairobi acceding Somali coastal territories.

It is important to note that Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed told the Kenyan Parliament on June 30th that Somalia had withdrawn its legal case against Kenya in the International Court. Mogadishu denied the Kenyan official’s assertion. It is not farfetched the current presence of Sharmarke and Gas in Nairobi is somewhat related to the coastal dispute between Kenya and Somalia.

Nevertheless Somalia is experiencing an unprecedented economic and financial crises. A meeting with Obama might be a desperate attempt to gain economic aid from Washington.

WardheerNews