Puntland State, ‘Mother of Federalism,’ underscores Somalia’s need for national reconciliation

By:  Yusuf Said HersiSunday June 7, 2026

For years, Puntland State has been cast as the “mother of federalism” in Somalia, a label earned through its early and forceful defense of a federal political order after the collapse of the central government. Like a parent preparing children for life in society, Puntland State positioned itself as a place where shared power, coexistence, and political balance could take root.

From the outset, Puntland State emerged as one of the clearest champions of a federal Somalia built on power-sharing, mutual trust, and regional autonomy. In a country still grappling with the wreckage of conflict and state collapse, it became an important reference point for debates on governance and rebuilding institutions. But federalism in Somalia has always remained a delicate undertaking, one that depends on patience, compromise, and steady dialogue to survive.

In recent years, however, doubts have intensified over whether some leaders in Somalia’s federal government truly believe in the federal model. The country’s last two presidents, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, have both been accused of leaning toward centralized authority rather than a partnership-based federal arrangement.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has drawn especially sharp criticism from opponents who say he is working to curb the authority of federal member states while expanding the reach of the central government over regional administrations. Disputes in South West and Jubaland are frequently cited, alongside rising unease over ties with Galmudug and Hirshabelle. Critics say these tensions erode the confidence and cooperation on which federalism was meant to rest.

Puntland State, meanwhile, has not been immune to its own internal strains. Political disagreements and leadership challenges have raised questions about whether its leaders have maintained a clear, united position on protecting and advancing federalism in Somalia. Recurrent disputes and fragmentation, critics argue, have weakened the authority Puntland State once wielded in shaping the national political conversation.

Two other unresolved issues continue to cast a long shadow over the project: North Western State of Somalia’s place outside the federal framework and the absence of a fully agreed constitution. Together, these matters complicate the effort to build a stable and coherent Somali state. If the friction between the federal government and regional states persists without a real national settlement, the country’s federal system could face even greater strain.

That is why calls are growing for Somalis to return to honest, inclusive national dialogue. A durable agreement, many argue, must settle the model of governance Somalia will follow, define how power is shared, clarify the constitution, and spell out the relationship between the central government and the federal member states. Such an understanding, they say, can only last if it is grounded in trust, fairness, and a collective stake in the country’s future.

Federalism will not hold if it is shaped by suspicion, fear, or overreach from the center. It can endure only through consultation, mutual respect, and a real commitment to building an inclusive Somali state for all its people.