Puntland State accuses Somali president of fueling tensions over election plan
AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State on Tuesday accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of stoking political tensions after the federal government rejected a proposed timetable for local council elections as “illegal,” escalating a long-running rift over power-sharing and control of the electoral process.
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In a sharply worded statement, Puntland State’s interior ministry said the schedule issued by Somalia’s federal electoral and boundaries commission amounted to interference in its internal affairs and violated the state’s constitutional authority.
“The commission that issued this timetable is neither based on agreement nor law, and we do not recognise its existence,” the ministry said, adding that the body could not operate within Puntland State’s constitutional territory.
Authorities in Garowe directly blamed Mohamud, accusing the president of using the commission to “fuel political tensions, divide communities and weaken the federal system.” The presidency did not immediately respond to the allegations, and the federal commission could not be reached for further comment.
The immediate flashpoint centered on the inclusion of Galdogob district in Mudug region on the federal schedule. Puntland State said it already held indirect local elections there in May 2023 and condemned the move as an overreach by Mogadishu-based institutions.
Within hours of Puntland State’s statement, the federal electoral body revised its timetable, removing Galdogob and acknowledging the district had been added “by mistake.” The rollback tempered one element of the dispute but did not address broader constitutional and jurisdictional objections raised by Puntland State.
Puntland State also reiterated longstanding claims over parts of the Sool and Ayn regions, insisting they fall under its jurisdiction and warning against any attempt by federal bodies to organize polls there. The statement underscored that any election activities must proceed in consultation with state authorities and in line with Puntland State’s legal framework.
The confrontation is the latest in a series of disagreements between Somalia’s federal government and Puntland State over constitutional reforms and the country’s electoral model. Those tensions have periodically stalled cooperation on governance, security coordination and resource sharing, and they risk complicating already fragile political dynamics in the Horn of Africa nation.
While the commission’s correction on Galdogob may ease an immediate procedural concern, Puntland State’s refusal to recognize the federal body — and its direct censure of Mohamud — highlights the deeper dispute over where authority lies in administering local elections. Analysts have warned that without a clear, mutually agreed legal basis for polls, state-federal relations could fray further, with implications for national reforms and efforts to consolidate Somalia’s federal system.
Key developments
- Puntland State calls the federal election timetable “illegal” and rejects the authority of the federal electoral commission.
- State officials accuse President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of using the body to inflame political tensions and undermine federalism.
- Federal commission removes Galdogob from its schedule, saying its inclusion was “by mistake,” after Puntland State’s protest.
- Puntland State reiterates claims over parts of Sool and Ayn, warning against any federal-organized polls in those areas.
- The row reflects deeper disputes over constitutional reforms and the design of Somalia’s electoral model.
The latest exchange underscores the need for renewed dialogue on election administration and constitutional boundaries. Without it, even technical scheduling decisions risk turning into flashpoints that harden political divides and complicate Somalia’s broader state-building agenda.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
