AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State on Monday formally rejected unilateral attempts by Somalia’s federal government to amend the country’s provisional constitution, warning that the push risks fracturing national unity and destabilizing the federal system.
After a high-level consultative meeting in Garowe, Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni and federal lawmakers from the region issued a joint statement condemning the reform process led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The regional leadership called the proposed amendments “illegal” and “non-consensual,” and said they would not recognize or implement any changes enacted without broad political agreement.
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“Puntland State recognizes only the agreed-upon provisional constitution of 2012,” the statement said. “Any amendments made without inclusive consultation and consensus are null and void. Puntland State is not a party to these changes, and they will not be implemented within our jurisdiction.”
At the center of the standoff is a package of constitutional overhauls championed by Mogadishu, including shifting Somalia from a parliamentary system to a presidential one and introducing a direct “one-person, one-vote” electoral model for 2026. Critics — among them opposition figures and some regional leaders — argue that the reforms would concentrate power in the presidency and were advanced without sufficient input from federal member states.
The meeting in Garowe, which included several lawmakers participating via video link, underscored concerns that the current federal leadership’s mandate is nearing its end. Puntland State authorities accused the presidency of bypassing federal protocols to push through a “one-sided” agenda, saying any lasting national settlement must be built on consensus with the regions.
International envoys have voiced mounting concern over the widening rift between Mogadishu and Garowe. Recent appeals from global partners urged the federal parliament’s leadership to exercise restraint and prioritize reconciliation, warning that escalating tensions could imperil the integrity of Somalia’s federal framework.
Puntland State, which declared autonomy in 1998, has long advocated for a decentralized federal structure and robust power-sharing with member states. Monday’s declaration adds to pressure on the federal government as it approaches the end of its term and further clouds the path to the nationwide elections slated for April 2026.
The practical implications of Puntland State’s stance could be significant. If the federal government proceeds with constitutional changes over regional objections, implementation could become uneven or contested across member states — an outcome that would complicate electoral preparations and governance. Puntland State’s refusal to recognize non-consensual amendments also signals possible legal challenges and administrative pushback should new rules be rolled out from Mogadishu.
While the federal leadership frames the reforms as a necessary reset to stabilize institutions and standardize elections, the dispute over process — who is consulted, when, and with what authority — has become the defining fault line. Puntland State’s leadership insists the 2012 provisional constitution remains the shared baseline for national decision-making until all parties agree on revisions.
The stakes are high: Somalia’s move toward direct voting is seen by proponents as a landmark step toward democratic consolidation after years of indirect, clan-based electoral arrangements. But without buy-in from key federal member states, political analysts warn, any accelerated constitutional overhaul could deepen mistrust and invite paralysis at a critical juncture for security, governance and economic recovery.
For now, both sides face a narrowing window to ease tensions and map a credible way forward. Puntland State’s message from Garowe is unambiguous — no new constitutional order without consensus — leaving Mogadishu to decide whether to slow the process and seek wider agreement or press ahead and risk institutional fragmentation.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
