Monday, July 7, 2025
Garowe – (Horn Africa News) – The Puntland regional parliament is preparing to vote on revoking the immunity of former Speaker Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril, accusing him of spearheading efforts to detach the disputed Sanaag region from Puntland and align it with the self-declared SSC-Khaatumo administration.
Parliamentarians backing the motion say the move is necessary to enable legal action against Jibril, including issuing an arrest warrant on charges of sedition, treason, and undermining the territorial integrity of Puntland. The vote on Jibril’s immunity is expected to take place later this week.
The controversy escalated after Jibril appeared publicly on Saturday in Elbuh, a village in eastern Sanaag, wearing military fatigues. He stood alongside local politicians and clan elders from the Warsangali community, who were organizing a conference aimed at formalizing Sanaag’s alignment with SSC-Khaatumo. This would effectively mark Sanaag’s withdrawal from Puntland’s authority — a move Puntland’s leadership views as an existential threat.
In response, Puntland security forces swiftly intervened, deploying troops to disperse the gathering and seal off access routes to Elbuh. Despite the crackdown, Jibril and his allies remain defiant. “The people of Sanaag have been marginalized by Puntland for too long. They have the right to decide their political destiny,” said one pro-SSC official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril, who served as Puntland’s parliamentary speaker between 2019 and 2023, was once a key figure in passing landmark anti-piracy legislation and negotiating revenue-sharing deals. However, his relationship with President Said Abdullahi Deni soured over disputes regarding election delays, governance reforms, and accusations of centralization of power. Jibril remains a sitting MP, which under Puntland law shields him from prosecution unless his parliamentary immunity is revoked.
Puntland officials have also pointed fingers at Villa Somalia, accusing the federal government in Mogadishu of covertly supporting the separatist initiative to weaken Puntland’s grip on the strategic region. The federal government has categorically denied any involvement, describing the accusations as “baseless.”
The Sanaag region is considered crucial to Puntland’s political and economic interests. The territory provides access to the Red Sea and contains untapped mineral wealth, including potential deposits of coal, tin, and rare earth elements. Losing control of Sanaag would not only diminish Puntland’s tax revenues but would also curtail its maritime access and regional clout.
The standoff has also highlighted deep-rooted grievances within Puntland. The Warsangali, a sub-clan of the Harti-Darod, have long complained of political and economic marginalization, accusing successive administrations of favoring the Majeerteen clan in top government appointments and infrastructure development projects.
In anticipation of potential unrest, Puntland has bolstered its military presence in Elbuh and nearby towns, aiming to deter further separatist mobilization. The attorney general is reportedly preparing charges of sedition, which under Puntland law could result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years if Jibril is convicted.
Meanwhile, SSC-Khaatumo — formed in 2023 after the ousting of Somaliland forces from Las Anod — continues to position itself as a political home for Harti-majority regions seeking autonomy from both Puntland and Somaliland. The group’s growing influence now threatens to redraw the region’s political map, as clan dynamics and historical grievances fuel new calls for self-determination.
