Puntland State president accuses Somali federal government of undermining federal system

Wednesday April 8, 2026

Garowe (AX) — Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni on Tuesday sharply criticized Somalia’s federal government, accusing it of pursuing a course that would erode the country’s federal model and concentrate power in Mogadishu.

Addressing residents in Qardho district, Deni pointed to comments attributed to Sheikh Ali Wajiis, an adviser to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, saying they amounted to a push for the federal government to take direct control of regional states — a move he described as an open challenge to Somalia’s federal order.

“The statements made by Ali Wajiis, who I believe is with President Hassan Sheikh, recommend that the Puntland State regions be governed by the federal government,” Deni said. “This undermines the existence of the federal system.”

He argued that the remarks reflect a wider mindset inside the federal leadership and said accountability for such positions ultimately lies with the president himself.

Deni warned that Puntland State, which has spent more than 20 years building its own administrative and security structures, would not stand by if those institutions were targeted or dismantled.

“We have built institutions for over 20 years. Any attempt to destroy that system will jeopardize the stability and progress achieved,” he said.

The Puntland State leader also insisted that Somali unity can only endure through consent, not pressure.

“The Somali people can only live together under a system they have agreed upon,” he said. “It is impossible to force them into a framework they are not satisfied with.”

Deni further accused the federal government of trying to secure sole control over natural resources in Puntland State, calling that approach unacceptable and inconsistent with the principles of Somalia’s federal arrangement.

His comments came as political tensions remain high after the federal government’s recent takeover of Southwest State and the naming of an interim administration in Baidoa. The move has intensified debate across the country over constitutional powers and the shifting balance between Mogadishu and the federal member states.

Puntland State, together with Jubbaland, has raised concerns that recent constitutional changes and federal interventions could place too much authority in the presidency and weaken Somalia’s already fragile federal system.

Federal officials, for their part, say the steps are necessary to safeguard national security and move ahead with electoral reforms, including plans for one-person, one-vote elections.