Garowe (PP Report) —The President of Puntland State of Somalia Said Abdullahi Deni earlier this week proposed a national salvation conference for the Federal Republic of Somalia. Four years ago, President Deni convened a summit to challenge the attempted term extension expedited by Somali bicameral legislature in 2021 for President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. That summit resulted in the “Alliance for Salvation”, a coalition that unseated President Farmaajo on 15 May 2022. The electoral model used was initially proposed by President Deni, who ran on a reform platform but lost to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
During the 2022 elections, mid-election negotiations between Jubaland’s President Ahmed Mohamed Islam and MPs and Senators from Jubaland allegedly undermined Deni’s candidacy. A Jubaland MP, Hamza Abdi Barre, was later appointed Prime Minister, sparking a breakdown in relations between Puntland and Jubaland. In 2023, Puntland cut ties with the Federal Government, while Jubaland maintained support for Mogadishu despite disagreements on elections in federal member states.
Tensions between Jubaland and the Federal Government worsened in late 2024 when President Islam opposed a federal proposal to extend the tenure of federal member state administrations. The proposal clashed with his plan to seek a third term in Jubaland.
Both Puntland and Jubaland boycotted the latest National Consultative Council (NCC) summit in Mogadishu. The summit was attended by Sool, Sanaag, Cayn and Khaatumo (SSCK), a new federal member state recognised by the Federal Government, covering areas formerly claimed by Puntland and Somaliland, a secessionist administration.
Despite shared grievances with Villa Somalia, Puntland and Jubaland have major obstacles to surmount to form a joint political front as they did in 2021. Economic constraints have made such a move costly: budgetary support for their administrations is tied to participation in federal state-building initiatives. Puntland’s 1998 Charter is now defunct, after the federal recognition of SSCK administration, which will select MPs and Senators under the next electoral model. Puntland recognised the legitimacy of SSCK administration in 2023 before it had been granted a federal member status.
Since the 2022 presidential election of Somalia, Presidents Deni and Islam have not reconciled their political differences. One recent NCC resolution tasked the Federal Ministry of Interior with proposing solutions to the Jubaland political crisis. The Federal Government of Somalia does not recognise Jubaland’s 2024 presidential election. While international partners urged both Puntland and Jubaland to attend the NCC summit, they declined to participate in the summit. Donors view participation in NCC summits as vital to unlocking dialogue.
Jubaland supports the proposed constitutional amendments, while Puntland rejects them. Puntland also demands the exclusion of Somaliland MPs and Senators from Somalia’s political process until Somaliland formally abandons its secessionist claims. Jubaland, in contrast, does not view the representation of Somaliland MPs and Senators in Mogadishu as a problem. These fundamental differences outweigh any shared interests, leaving Villa Somalia to benefit from a fractured opposition.
© Puntland Post, 2025
You must be logged in to post a comment.