Puntland says no referendum in Sool and Sanaag

There will be no referendum in Sool and Sanag according to the administration of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia. Puntland Commerce and Industry Minister Ahmad Abdi Habsade told IRIN that the referendum planned by the self-declared independent state of Somaliland, northwestern Somalia, would not go ahead in Sool and Sanaag - regions which geographically fall within the borders of Somaliland, but where the majority of the clans inhabiting them are associated with Puntland. Habsande said that Puntland believed people did not want the referendum, and said his administration would “support the wishes of the people”. Habsade said the people of Sool and Sanaag were Harti, a Darod sub-clan, and “therefore are part of Puntland, and... do not want to be a part of the so-called Somaliland”. He said Puntland would defend itself if necessary. The referendum, which is to take place in Somaliland on 31 May, will ask people of the region to approve a new constitution, which includes confirmation of Somaliland’s unilateral declaration of independence. Somaliland declared itself independent in may 1991, based on the borders of the former British protectorate - but has never received international recognition. A Puntland press statement on 26 April described the referendum as “unwise and provocative”. However, Somaliland Information Minister Muhammad Ali Waran’ade told journalists at a press conference in Hargeysa on 28 April that the referendum would go ahead as planned, and that the disputed regions were part and parcel of Somaliland, the BBC said.