Puntland State Urges Somali President to Reach Consensus as Term Nears End

AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State’s ministerial council on Thursday pressed Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to use the last month of his tenure to forge a broad political settlement, warning that uncertainty is deepening as key federal mandates run out.

The appeal came after a cabinet session led by Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni, where officials examined the country’s political situation. The debate has sharpened since the federal parliament’s mandate officially expired on April 14, 2026.

“The Council calls on the outgoing President of Somalia to recognize the importance of reaching an inclusive agreement within his remaining month to ensure a consensus-based election can take place,” the Puntland State cabinet said in a formal statement.

Regional ministers said they were deeply alarmed by Somalia’s political direction and cautioned that a failure to secure a united agreement could widen divisions and fuel instability across the country. In its statement, the council reaffirmed Puntland State’s support for an electoral process that protects both national cohesion and stability.

President Mohamud’s own term is due to end in 30 days. Even as the parliament’s mandate lapsed this week and pressure has mounted from regional leaders and the opposition, he has held firm. The president has said the government will move ahead with a “one-person, one-vote” election and has urged critics to join the process rather than resist it.

The dispute has brought Somalia to another pivotal moment, as the Horn of Africa state continues to struggle with the shift from an indirect clan-based voting system to direct universal suffrage, all against a backdrop of security threats and disputes between federal and regional authorities.

AXADLETM