Interesting, very interesting
I spoke to my Garowe sources the other day. Deni is really not popular with them. And despite what people say here, they aren't Aaranjaan. They hate the guy and the way he operates
He is actually more popular with the locals and is lucky with large projects, but the bloody man in stubborn with dictatorial tendencies. It must be said his popularity has taken a nose dive since the call off of the elections. In my humble opinion, he has done more than the last 3 leaders combined, granted he inherited from their previous works.Iβm getting a different picture from friends and family I speak to (theyβre from diverse backgrounds).
Many of the people I speak to back home credit him with moving Puntland forward in terms of supporting infrastructure development, increasing transparency around tax collection and state funding through a more centralised system, pushing back against a hostile SFG etc etc. I think many also warmed to him with all the excitement around the 1m1v process.
His main detractors are a combination of the establishment mafia cabal who want to maintain the status quo of power remaining in the hands of a corrupt elite, bitter(naive) Puntland Farmajo supporters still angry at Deniβs part in his downfall and of course,certain Reer Garowe folk who see this as their turn to rule. There are also those who have personal beef with him.
Of course every leader will have those genuinely opposed to him and Deni is a straight talker with a low tolerance for bs which can sometimes come across the wrong way.
Anyways, Somali politics is brutal which is why we have to yet see a leader re-elected ( HSM lost to Farmajoo during his re election campaign).