Puntland, a semi autonomous state of Somalia, has rejected what it described as “unilateral attempts” by the Somali federal government to amend the country’s provisional constitution.
In a statement issued on Monday, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni and federal lawmakers representing the state, warned that such moves threaten national unity and political stability.
They condemned the reform process led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the regional leadership described the amendments as “illegal” and “non-consensual,” asserting that they would not recognize any changes made without broad political agreement.
The standoff centers on a suite of constitutional overhauls proposed by the central government in Mogadishu, which include shifting Somalia from a parliamentary system to a presidential one and introducing a direct “one-person, one-vote” electoral model for the 2026 elections.
Opposition blocs and regional leaders argue that these reforms aim to monopolize power in the presidency and were drafted without sufficient input from federal member states.
They claimed the current federal leadership’s mandate is nearing its end while regional governments accused the president of bypassing established federal protocols to push through a “one-sided” agenda.
Puntland, which established its own autonomy in 1998, has historically been a vocal advocate for a decentralized federal structure. This latest declaration further isolates the federal government as it nears the end of its term, raising questions about the feasibility of national elections scheduled for April 2026.
MG/abj/APA