Abdullahi Yusuf chased out of Bosaso

Bosaso, the commercial capital of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, in northeastern Somalia, is returning to normal a day after forces loyal to Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf were routed and forced out of the town by forces loyal to the “acting president”, Yusuf Haji Nur, local sources told IRIN. Abdullahi Yusuf and his forces returned to Garowe, the regional capital, on Monday night, Muhammad Deq, the editor of ‘Sahan’ newspaper told IRIN. On Tuesday, traditional elders met local government workers in Bosaso and instructed them to report to the new administration of Yusuf Haji Nur, he added. Somali political sources told IRIN that the failed attack on Bosaso was an attempt by Abdullahi Yusuf to regain “by military means what he had lost politically”. It backfired, and he “not only lost politically but militarily”, the sources added. According to the sources, the loss of Bosaso was also significant for economic reasons. “Bosaso is the cash cow of the region”, and without the money from the port, which serves almost all of southern Somalia, Abdullahi Yusuf would have difficulty in paying his forces, local sources told IRIN. Abdullahi Yusuf, who was elected president of Puntland in 1998, has been embroiled in a leadership dispute since the end of June 2001. The mandate of Abdullahi Yusuf’s administration was to have expired on 30 June, but was extended for another three years, according to the administration. However, the extension was challenged by opposition figures and aspiring presidential candidates, who declared it a “set-up” by handpicked faithfuls. Clan elders who met in Garowe to discuss the controversy surrounding the extension, on 25 July confirmed former Puntland Chief Justice Yusuf Haji Nur as “acting president” until 31 August. The next step would then to be for Yusuf Haji Nur to call a general congress to elect a new administration for the region. Abdullahi Yusuf rejected the clan elders’ decision, accusing them of engaging in activities outside their mandate. Diplomatic sources in Nairobi, however, caution against writing Abdulllahi Yusuf off as a political and military player. “He lost a battle yesterday, but he is by no means finished yet,” said one on Tuesday.