Puntland VP breaks rank with Gaas over Vetting Committee

Puntland vice president Abdihakim Haji Omar Amey has disagreed with his boss Abdiweli Gaas over the appointment of Vetting and Dispute Resolution Committee to oversee the upcoming parliamentary selection process.

Amey said in a statement the appointment of the eight-member committee was a unilateral decision by the state president which he noted ran counter to the state laws.

“The selection of members of the Vetting and Dispute Resolution Committee by Puntland President is not in line with the procedure which has been used by all former governments,” said Amey in a rare show of public defiance.

Amey said Gaas did not consult anyone regarding the appointment of the committee adding the committee could not stand the neutrality test in the vetting of candidates.

Gaas announced Monday the formation of an eight member committee which will be crucial in determining the fate of candidates for various slots allotted to respective clans and sub clans.

Under the Puntland parliamentary electoral system, clan elders propose names of candidates for the position of MPs to the Vetting Committee which will subsequently declare them MPs elect should they meet their vetting criteria.

The new MPs will be electing a new president January 8.