MOGADISHU, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of five Somali regional states on Saturday resolved to suspend relations with the central government, citing a lack of political and security progress in the Horn of Africa nation.
In a joint statement issued at the end of a two-day meeting in southern port city of Kismayo, the leaders from Jubaland, Puntland, Southwest, Galmudug and Hirshabelle regions also accused the central government of interfering with regional issues, failure to implement security architecture and not fulfilling political agreements.
"From the perspective of the key elements of cooperation between the two parties, the Council suspended cooperation between the central government and the states," the leaders said in the statement.
The regional presidents criticized the central government for failing in the fight against al-Shabab, saying there was no proper coordination between the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops and national security forces.
They also cited lack of tangible progress in the constitutional making process, saying Mogadishu has done little to ensure that the country holds a one-person-one-vote elections in 2020.
The presidents' meeting under the Council of Inter-State Cooperation (CIC) added that there lacks a mechanism for sharing national resources between the regional states and the government.
The leaders said they will only resume normal ties with Mogadishu until all the agreements reached in the past meetings held in the capital and Baidoa are implemented.
The regional presidents: Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas (Puntland), Ahmed Duale Gelle (Galmudug), Mohamed Abdi Ware (Hirshabelle), Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden (South West State) and Sheikh Ahmed Madobe (Jubaland) also decried lack of sharing of foreign aid.
There was no immediate response from the central government.
Analysts say the resolutions are the latest political setback by the central government which is trying to partner with the international community to stabilize the Horn of Africa nation.
