Thursday, June 26, 2025 – HAN
Garowe – The federal member states of Puntland and Jubbaland have jointly welcomed the holding of one-person, one-vote elections at the local government level, viewing it as an important step toward democratizing Somalia.
However, the two administrations have called for the establishment of a special committee to organize the elections, rather than relying on the current Federal Electoral Commission, which they believe should not be solely in charge of the process.
Despite their support for local elections, both Puntland and Jubbaland strongly oppose amendments to the Provisional Constitution and the current approach the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) is taking toward national elections. They argue that the process lacks consensus and has not included all relevant political stakeholders.
In a joint statement, they accused the FGS of misusing international aid, alleging that the central government is politicizing support from the international community that was intended for national development.
The two states also warned against the FGS’s forceful use of authority over Somalia’s airspace, describing it as a violation of prior agreements.
They announced plans to file a formal complaint to protect their rights and uphold the integrity of the federal system.
This press release comes amid escalating political tensions between some federal member states and the central government—raising concerns about the impact on the country’s election process and national unity.
