Puntland and Galmudug ink peace pact in Abu Dhabi

Puntland and Galmudug have struck a deal to end hostilities in Galkaayo which has cost many lives and displaced thousands of people, a wire from Abu Dhabi confirms.

Sky News Arabic reports the two regions have agreed to a peace deal under the auspices of the United Arab Emirates leadership.

The Emirates has said it will stand by Somalia to ensure peace and stability is restored in the country.

Puntland’s Abdiweli Gaas, Galmudug’s Abdikarin Guled and newly elected president of Hirshabelle state Ali Abdullahi Osoble have been in the UAE for close to a week now.

It was not immediately clear if the agenda of the meeting was specifically confined to the peace talks.

Sources intimate political talks also featured in the meeting as the country gears for the election of a new president. The UAE has been actively involved in supporting regional administrations in Somalia to build their security forces.

UAE has in the recent past supplied police and military vehicles to Puntland, Somaliland and Jubbaland and the Federal Government.