MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said relations between the federal government and Puntland have reached a complete standstill, with communication and institutional cooperation effectively breaking down amid deepening political disagreements.
Speaking about the state of relations between Mogadishu and the Puntland administration, Hassan Sheikh said there is currently no meaningful coordination between the two sides, including at the ministerial level, despite the importance of cooperation on national issues.
“There is currently no institutional communication between the federal government and Puntland,” the president said, describing a situation in which official channels of engagement have largely ceased to function.
The president also dismissed allegations that the federal government has been sending individuals to Puntland to create instability or interfere in local affairs. He said federal employees based in Puntland are carrying out legitimate government duties and are not involved in activities intended to undermine security or public order.
His comments come against the backdrop of a prolonged political dispute between Mogadishu and Puntland over constitutional amendments, electoral reforms, and the division of powers within Somalia’s federal system.
Puntland has been one of the strongest critics of recent constitutional changes approved by federal institutions, arguing that the amendments were adopted without sufficient consultation with federal member states and lack the broad consensus required for such reforms.
The disagreement has also widened over proposals related to Somalia’s electoral framework and the future balance of authority between the federal government and regional administrations.
Political observers warn that the continued absence of dialogue between the two sides could hinder progress on key national priorities, including constitutional review, election preparations, security coordination, and state-building efforts.
Puntland remains one of Somalia’s most politically influential federal member states, and analysts say restoring communication between Garowe and Mogadishu will be critical to resolving disputes that have increasingly shaped the country’s political landscape.
Despite the current impasse, observers note that both sides face growing pressure from domestic and international partners to resume dialogue and seek compromise on issues central to Somalia’s political future.
