Arta Group is working into the destabilization of Puntland

Galkaio, (PUNTIN), October 25 - the self-styled Arta group is now working into the destabilization of the only peaceful states of Somalia. Some members of Arta deputies have been in contact for the past two weeks with some Puntland intellectuals and elites inside and outside the country to woo them to fill in some ministerial posts in the Arta-formed "interim government". The Group is now trying to recruit qualified and influential Puntlanders whose influence might weaken the Puntland administration and subsequently end Puntland's intransigence.

Reliable sources add that all of these intellectuals rejected the offer, making no secret that they wouldn't accept any nomination that might undermine the stability and the law and order prevailing in Puntland state. Some of the twenty-five ministers and deputy ministers of the so-called "interim government" have not been nominated by the Group in the hope that they will find some more interested Puntlanders who might lend weight to their claim for legitimacy.

Puntland administration has been the most vocal critic of the self-styled Arta government, demanding that outcome of Arta process be annulled and the burning issues like regional autonomy, the seat of the government and the post-civil war system of governance to be renegotiated on since Putnland administration had not been a party to the process.

Some Somali local governments and community leaders that had been a party to the conference have since then backtracked on their support for the Process and aligned themselves with Puntland's tough position. The Arta Group is now worried that the trend might lead to the same fate as earlier botched reconciliation processes. The Arta Group now envisages its survival to lie in the demise of the regional administrations like Puntland.

Somalia has been without central authority for a decade with different factions claiming false legitimacy at times.

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