BOSSASO, Somalia Aug 15 (Garowe Online) - The leader of Somalia's Puntland regional government, Gen. Mohamud "Adde" Muse, has announced that foreign companies will manage the regoin's key ports as part of a recent economic deal.
During a Thursday interview with VOA Somali Service, President Muse addressed many issues including the security situation and the upcoming presidential election.
On security, the Puntland leader said the administration has established a "six-month plan" to improve security, but stated that hundreds of people entering Puntland are helping contribute to insecurity.
President Muse said Puntland security forces have "arrested 40 pirates" and was waiting for assistance from foreign governments who pledged to help the regional authority's campaign against piracy.
But the Puntland leader suggested that shipping companies who pay ransom are "only encouraging piracy," adding that local police have the ability to detain the pirates.
"After four years, we have finalized an agreement and the animal quarantine will open 10 to 15 days," President Muse said, while answering a question about a delegation from the Middle East that visited the port city of Bossaso, the region's commercial hub.
He indicated that the animal quarantine "will be the biggest in the Horn of Africa" once its opened and that Somalis will be able to export livestock to markets in the Middle East.
Management of the Port of Bossaso "will be completely handed over" to Arab companies, which he did not name. He cited the Port of Djibouti as an example, which is wholly managed by United Arab Emirates-based Dubai Ports World.
Source: Garowe Online
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