Sunday July 5, 2026
Garowe (AX) — Puntland State drew a firm line on Sunday over control of its coastline and territory, declaring that no foreign company, whether public or private, including SOMTURK, can carry out fishing investment, coast guard activities or any other operations in Puntland State waters or on Puntland State land without authorization from the regional authorities.
In a statement, Puntland State said its position rests on Somalia’s 2012 Provisional Federal Constitution as well as the Puntland State Constitution.
“Federal government institutions do not have the legal authority to issue licenses or enter into investment agreements related to the sea and land of Puntland State,” the statement said.
Puntland State noted that Somalia operates under a federal system, but said talks on the country’s final federal structure have not yet been completed.
The regional government said Somalia’s federal Constitution calls for cooperation and consultation between federal authorities and federal member states, especially when decisions involve national resources.
It also cited the Puntland State Constitution, saying the region’s resources belong to the people of Puntland State and that their management and use fall under the responsibility of the Puntland State administration.
Puntland State said it would continue to exercise the powers provided under its Constitution until Somalia’s federal arrangement is fully settled.
The administration cautioned that any individual or entity operating in Puntland State waters or on its territory without approval from Puntland State institutions would be subject to investigation and legal action.
The announcement follows growing scrutiny of Somalia’s fisheries cooperation agreements with Türkiye.
Under one agreement, SOMTURK, a company created within the framework of cooperation between the Somali and Turkish governments, is tasked with managing licensing procedures connected to fisheries activity in Somalia’s exclusive economic zone.
Fishing licenses in Somali territorial waters are expected to be processed through SOMTURK under the agreement.
Somalia and Türkiye have maintained close diplomatic, economic and military relations since 2011, when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was then prime minister, traveled to Somalia.
Since then, Türkiye has emerged as one of Somalia’s major international partners, backing development, humanitarian, security and infrastructure initiatives.
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, known as TIKA, has carried out more than 150 development projects in Somalia since 2011.
Türkiye also has its largest embassy in Africa in Mogadishu and runs its largest overseas military training facility in Somalia, where Somali National Army forces receive training.
