GAROWE, Puntland, Somalia, Jan 10 (The Daily Somalia) – President Said Abdullahi Deni marks one year in office after being re-elected on January 8, 2024, to lead Somalia’s first established federal member state. As the first year of his 5-year term concludes, we will analyze various areas of his administration’s performance.
Domestic politics
When Deni took office, he appointed a 57-member cabinet with experienced politicians, newcomers, and opposition members to promote inclusivity. However, critics say his administration has not reconciled with key opposition figures, many of whom have moved to Mogadishu and Nairobi for federal government positions. In his first year, local elections were completed in three districts, but disputes over council leadership arose due to issues in Law No. 7. The Ministry of Interior successfully mediated clan conflicts in Mudug and Karkaar regions but faced criticism for not resolving land disputes and failing to develop sustainable mediation initiatives for repeated clan clashes across the state.
In December, a conference on fiscal authority and service delivery was held in Garowe, the capital town. The conference made limited progress, and local governments are still waiting for crucial budget allocations, further stalling reforms.
Relations with the Federal Government
During 2024, tensions between Somalia’s federal government in Mogadishu and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland have worsened due to constitutional amendments.
Initial optimism about Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attending the 2024 inauguration of Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has faded. In March 2024, Puntland cut ties with Mogadishu, citing unilateral constitutional amendments by Hassan Sheikh’s administration. The Puntland government and its parliament have reaffirmed their own constitution, rejecting the Somali government’s amendments.
Puntland’s withdrawal from national discussions on federalism has left the issue of Somalia’s draft constitution unresolved. Critics argue that President Deni’s administration has failed to articulate Puntland’s vision for federalism, leaving the region politically isolated. Some opposition members accuse him of prioritizing his interests over the state’s interests, particularly regarding aid fund sharing and development projects for Somalia, from which Puntland did not receive its share.
Meanwhile, Puntland has stayed neutral in the ongoing Somalia-Ethiopia dispute over Somaliland’s agreement with Addis Ababa. Instead, the Puntland administration has focused on strengthening trade and security ties with Ethiopia. Despite calls to close Ethiopia’s consulate in Garowe, Puntland has opposed such actions.
Economic and development projects
The economic outlook in Puntland is not good. Development projects have stopped, and local buying power is much lower. A recent report by the Ministry of Planning showed that many wealthy residents have left, and small businesses have closed. Budget allocations for important sectors like education and healthcare are very low—just 8% and 3%, respectively. This shows a lack of focus on public services and economic development.
Unemployment has risen a lot, with many skilled workers leaving for jobs in Mogadishu or abroad. This outflow, along with a lack of investment, has hurt the local economy and made it harder to find jobs. Despite an 18% increase in the 2024 budget, there are still concerns about transparency, with no clear reason given for the budget increase.
Puntland is facing challenges in managing natural resources, especially gold mining in the Milho area of the Sanaag region and the issuance of fishing licenses, both of which lack proper oversight. Delays in paying salaries to civil servants and security forces have added to the growing discontent.
Banking reforms are in progress, with experts appointed to key roles in the General Auditor’s Office and the Central Bank. Out of the 27 World Bank-funded projects across Somalia, Puntland secured only five. Important projects, like the Galkio-XarfoRoad, GPE, ECW, and CIP ACRF, are still stalled. The Puntland Tender Board has become ineffective after its former chairperson became a parliament member, leaving it without leadership. Additionally, the Joint Programme on Local Governance (JPLG), which had long supported Puntland’s local governments, has stopped operations in the region.
SSC-Khaatumo issue
Even though SSC-Khaatumo clans have representation in parliament and the cabinet in Puntland, the traditional leaders of SSC-Khaatumo announced in February 2023 that they are not part of Puntland or Somaliland. They formed the SSC-Khaatumo interim administration, appointing Abdulkadir Ahmed Firdhiye as the leader. In August 2023, SSC-Khaatumoforces freed their territory from Somaliland forces after nine months of deadly battles. Puntland President Deni, who supported SSC-Khaatumo during their struggle, has not visited SSC-Khaatumo. Calls for a conference and dialogue from SSC-Khaatumo leaders have gone unanswered, and disputes over development projects and governance continue to strain relations.
The Puntland government has not taken legal action regarding the SSC-Khaatumo issue. In a surprising turn, SSC-Khaatumoand Somaliland agreed to negotiate, facilitated by Somali Ethiopian regional state president Mustafe Mohamud Cagjar, leaving Puntland out of the process, according to sources.
Social service delivery: Education and Health
In the education sector, student performance is worrying. Only 35% of secondary and middle school students passed mathematics exams, and less than half passed science subjects. The Ministry of Education has not released school performance evaluations, raising concerns about improving educational standards. Despite proposed reforms by the Minister of Education, President Deni has not approved them, citing dissatisfaction with the ministry’s performance.
The education system is struggling due to stopped international projects like those supported by GPE, ECW, and JRP. A recent meeting in Nairobi between Puntland and the federal government raised hopes, but progress is still slow.
The health sector is also facing problems, with internal conflicts disrupting operations within the Ministry of Health. A presidential committee recommended firing key officials for blocking accountability, but no permanent director has been appointed for over a year. According to a parliament report, funding gaps have put Puntland’s 400 maternal and child health centers at risk, with many, especially in the Bari region, facing closure, further damaging the already poor health system in Puntland.
A recent study published by SIDRA, a leading think tank based in Garowe, revealed that the main reasons patients traveled abroad for treatment were the unavailability of required medical services and treatments in Puntland State and dissatisfaction with the medical services patients received in Puntland State/Somalia (31% and 41%, respectively).
Security and counterterrorism
Over the past year, security incidents in Puntland have decreased conducted by terrorist groups, despite the ISIS militant group in the Bari region has been growing militarily. In an interview with VOA in October 2024, AFRICOM commander Gen. Michael Langley said that slamic State in Somalia has approximately doubled in size over the past year, and expressed concern about the the militant’s pose to thereat stability of the region.
The Puntland government announced a large-scale operation targeting ISIS fighters in the Calmiskaad Mountains and prepared hundreds of forces for the battle. As they showed off their forces, ISIS fighters attacked a Puntland military base in Dharjale on December 31, 2024. Puntland forces killed 12 foreign ISIS fighters. These fighters came from Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, and Libya, showing the international nature of the ISIS threat in the region.
Piracy along Puntland’s coastline has returned, with some commercial ships being hijacked. Illegal fishing in Somalia drives piracy due to economic desperation and a sense of justification for it. Local fishermen’s main income source is depleted, leading to survival instincts and retaliation against foreign fishing vessels. Piracy is also seen as a way to protect their waters and marine resources.
However, as President Deni starts his second year in office, Puntland faces major political, economic, and governance challenges. The year has seen rising tensions with the federal government, little progress on key development projects, and setbacks in important areas like education and healthcare. Key issues, like the SSC-Khaatumo issue, remain unresolved.
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