President Yusuf, 71, winner in the run-off round of the poll by law-makers had served as president of the northeastern self-declared autonomous region of Puntland since 1998. While Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991, Puntland had had a strong leader through President Yusuf to enforce security within Puntlan

President Yusuf is now the President of Somalia with aims to restore law and order throughout the Southern parts of Somalia which has the major conflict 1000 kilometres to the South from the planned Puntland HAFZA operation.  However, the dispute continues between Puntland and Somaliland over the claimed borders which may obstruct a few of the most Western HAFZA contracted free zones around the town of Las Anod and North to the Coast.

President Yusuf aims to have Somali government forces established within 12 months. To assist in that regard, President Yusuf has recently sought some 20,000 UN troops to disarm the militia in South Somalia.  The dispute with Somaliland and Puntland over their respective claimed borders may take longer.

NAIROBI, Oct 27 (Reuters).

"There will be no businessman having organized militiamen and technical vehicles. The government will be responsible for peace and security," Abdullahi Yusuf told a gathering of Somali business.

HAFZA has development rights for a 99 year term with a potential further 99 year term to follow if all parties are in agreement. 

If politicians say a week is a lifetime in politics, imagine what they would say of 99 years!