Explainer: Puntland at 28 - How it shaped Somalia’s federal system and why it remains at odds with Mogadishu

Why is Puntland marking its anniversary? Puntland was established on Aug. 1, 1998, after political leaders, traditional elders, and community representatives met in Garowe to create an administration for northeastern Somalia. The founding conference brought together communities from northern Mudug, Nugal, Bari, and parts of Sool and Sanaag. Its transitional charter envisioned Puntland as a federal entity within a future Somali state, not as an independent country. That position distinguished Puntland from Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Why was Puntland created? Somalia’s central government collapsed in 1991, leaving large parts of the country without functioning national institutions. Leaders in the northeast sought to restore security, administration, and basic government while remaining part of Somalia. Their preferred solution was federalism: a national government in Mogadishu sharing authority with strong regional administrations. Puntland therefore began operating as a regional state more than a decade before Somalia formally adopted its provisional federal constitution in 2012. How did Puntland shape Somali federalism? Puntland became one of the strongest advocates for replacing Somalia’s former centralized system with a federal structure. Its leaders participated in national reconciliation and state-building processes and argued that regional governments should retain substantial authority over local administration, security, and resources. Puntland’s experience in establishing a presidency, parliament, judiciary, and security institutions provided an early model for the regional administrations later created elsewhere in Somalia. How many Federal Member States does Somalia have? Somalia currently has six Federal Member States: - Puntland - Jubaland - South West - Galmudug - Hirshabelle - North East State The Banadir Regional Administration, which governs Mogadishu, is not counted as a Federal Member State and has separate constitutional and administrative status. Somaliland has operated as a self-declared independent administration since 1991 and does not participate in Somalia’s federal institutions, although the Federal Government continues to regard it as part of Somalia. North East State is the newest member of the federal system. Its recognition has been rejected by Puntland, which maintains claims over parts of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn. What territory does Puntland administer or claim? Puntland administers much of northeastern Somalia, including Bari, Nugal, and northern Mudug, as well as areas organized under regional administrations such as Karkaar, Gardafuul, and Haylaan. Its capital is Garowe, while Bosaso on the Gulf of Aden is its main commercial center and port. Puntland’s founding territorial vision also included eastern Sool and eastern Sanaag. Control of parts of Sool, Sanaag, and Ayn has long been contested among Puntland, Somaliland, and local administrations. The creation and federal recognition of North East State further changed the political map, particularly around Las Anod. Puntland continues to assert territorial claims in some of these areas, but it does not exercise uniform administrative control across all of them. Why does Puntland often disagree with Mogadishu? Puntland supports a federal Somalia but argues that federalism must be based on negotiated power-sharing and constitutional consensus. Its disputes with successive federal governments have centred on: - The division of authority between Mogadishu and the states - Constitutional amendments - Electoral systems - Revenue and natural-resource sharing - Security responsibilities - The creation and recognition of new regional states Puntland says major constitutional decisions should not be imposed by federal authorities without agreement from the Federal Member States. Why did relations deteriorate in 2024? The dispute intensified after Somalia’s parliament approved constitutional amendments in March 2024. The changes included provisions for direct presidential elections and altered the relationship between the president and prime minister. Puntland argued that they were adopted without sufficient national consensus. Puntland subsequently said it would govern independently from federal institutions until a constitution agreed through a nationwide referendum, in which Puntland participated, was established. The announcement did not amount to a declaration of independence. Puntland continued to identify itself as part of Somalia but rejected the authority of the amended federal arrangements. Where does Puntland stand on direct elections? Puntland supports universal suffrage in principle and has itself pursued local direct elections. Its disagreement with Mogadishu concerns how national electoral changes are adopted. Puntland argues that the move from Somalia’s indirect, clan-based system to direct elections must be grounded in a nationally agreed constitutional settlement. The Federal Govern...