Puntland president appoints new state minister

President of Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland, Abdiwali Mohamed Ali Gas, has appointed new State Minister in a presidential decree.

Burhan Elmi Hirsi was named as state minister for the presidency on Monday.

Hirsi held the same position as Minister for Enviroment during the previous government term of President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole.

The position was vacant since the former state minister Mohamed Abas Moalim resigned.

Several Puntland ministers have resigned from their posts following failure of Puntland government to financially support activities and operations of their ministries.

The regional state of Puntland has enjoyed relative peace compared to the rest of Somalia which has remained in the grip of violence since 1991.