Former Puntland President Faroole: No Legitimate Government in Mogadishu

GAROWE – Former Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Faroole, now a Senator in Somalia’s Upper House, has launched a sharp verbal attack on the Federal Government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, declaring that there is no legitimate government in Mogadishu and that the country’s constitution has been violated.

Speaking at a meeting of elders from the Nugal region in Garowe, Faroole stated: “There is no legitimate government in Mogadishu, and the other administrations have been dismantled. Puntland is the only region where stability and law prevail.” He called on the people of Puntland to support their regional administration to strengthen peace and security in the area.

Faroole has previously called for internationally mediated talks to safeguard Somalia’s federalism, arguing that the current political crisis requires external facilitation to preserve the federal system and prevent the country’s fragmentation. He warned that the constitutional amendments pushed by President Mohamud’s administration threaten to dismantle the federal structure.

Faroole’s remarks come amid escalating tensions between the Federal Government and Puntland, which has barred federal-linked troops from operating in its territory and accused Mogadishu of destabilisation efforts.

Constitutional Disputes and Federal-State Tensions

The former president accused President Mohamud’s administration of undermining the federal system, which he described as having been “dismantled.” His comments reflect the deepening rift between the Federal Government and Puntland over constitutional amendments, electoral processes, and the distribution of power.

Puntland has previously stated that it does not recognise President Mohamud as a legitimate leader, maintaining that his term concluded on May 15, 2026, and that federal institutions have lost their constitutional legitimacy.

The federal government recently abolished the use of the title “president” for regional state leaders, renaming them “leaders” (hoggaamiye) in line with constitutional amendments that have been rejected by Puntland and Jubaland.

Escalating Political Crisis

Faroole’s statement comes at a time of heightened political tensions, with federal troop movements in parts of Puntland and ongoing disagreements over the country’s electoral model. The federal government has maintained that President Mohamud remains in office until May 2027 under constitutional amendments passed by parliament in March 2026, a position Puntland and the opposition Future Council have rejected.

Puntland authorities have sent additional troops to major cities and bolstered security forces at checkpoints outside Bosaso, Garowe, and Galkayo, marking a sharp rise in tensions between the regional administration and the federal government in Mogadishu.

Puntland has formally rejected the constitutional amendments, arguing that they undermine the federal system and concentrate excessive power in the hands of the federal presidency.

Calls for Unity and Stability

The former president, who served as Puntland’s leader from 2009 to 2014, urged the people of Puntland to work with their regional administration to strengthen peace and stability. “We tell the people of Puntland that this is a place of peace,” he said. “We seek peace, and whoever brings harm, may God deal with them.”

His comments come as Puntland continues to assert its authority over security matters and resist what it describes as federal overreach. Puntland Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor has previously accused Villa Somalia of utilising substantial resources to destabilise the region, stating that the priority for the current year will move toward “defence” against political interference.

Way Forward

The comments by Senator Faroole, a veteran politician and former Puntland president, add to the growing chorus of opposition voices rejecting the federal government’s legitimacy. As the standoff between Garowe and Mogadishu continues, the risk of further political and security deterioration looms large, with the federal government’s claim to authority being challenged by Puntland and the opposition Somali Future Council, which has warned that it will move to establish a parallel government if no political consensus on elections is reached.