Puntland Backs Jubbaland, Warns Federal Government Against Interference

GAROWE, Somalia – The Puntland regional state on Saturday publicly declared its support for the Jubbaland administration and issued a strong warning to Somalia’s federal government against what it described as unlawful interference in regional affairs.

Speaking during the opening session of the 56th Puntland Parliament in Garowe, President Said Abdullahi Deni condemned a recent federal offensive in the southern town of Ras Kamboni, saying it threatened national stability and risked reigniting civil conflict.

“The Somali National Army must not be used for political purposes,” Deni said. “We will not accept the federal government waging war on a legitimately elected federal member state like Jubbaland.”

Deni criticized Mogadishu’s increasing efforts to weaken Jubbaland’s autonomy, reiterating that Somalia’s future lies in adherence to a federal system that respects the autonomy of its member states.

“No Somali group can dominate another. No clan represents all others,” he said. “Our nationhood must be built on consensus, cooperation, and respect for the federal constitution. Regional states must lead their own local governance without federal intrusion.”

The president warned that continued interference by the federal government would deepen political divisions and undermine efforts to build an inclusive national government.

His remarks come amid growing tensions across Somalia’s federal landscape, particularly following constitutional amendments and electoral reforms spearheaded by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud—moves that Puntland and other states have opposed as unilateral and centralizing.

In recent months, Puntland has repeatedly voiced concern over what it sees as the federal government’s failure to respect constitutional boundaries and its growing encroachment on regional authorities.

Deni concluded his speech with a call for genuine dialogue between Mogadishu and regional states to resolve political disputes and preserve Somalia’s unity.

“The only path forward is one built on dialogue, mutual respect, and a federal system that works for all Somalis,” he said.

GAROWE ONLINE