Puntland State Vice President Ahmed Elmi Osman Karaash replaced three top ministers on Wednesday in a major reshuffle amid the growing political standoff between the VP and the regional president Said Abdullahi Deni.
Abdiqani Hashi Bumbo was appointed as the Interior Minister replacing Mohamed Abdirahman Dhabanad. Finance Minister Hassan Shire Abgal has been replaced by Abdirizak Mire Hassan (Gawiido), while Security Minister Abdisamad Gallan has been replaced by Ahmed Haji Ibrahim Bakiin.
The three ousted ministers were the influential members of the cabinet who were close friends of Puntland President Said Deni.
Said Deni announced his candidacy for Somali president on March 19 and ignored calls from politicians for him to resign and hand over power to his deputy.
Last month, Said Deni invalidated any directives by Vice President Ahmed Karash. He urged all government agencies to carry out their duties and not comply with any decree inconsistent with the Constitution and other regulations of the Government Puntland as stated in Article 138, paragraph 2 of the Puntland Constitution.
