Puntland accuses federal government of creating constitutional vacuum after Mogadishu raids

GAROWE, Somalia – Puntland on Thursday strongly accused Somalia’s federal leadership of deliberately creating a “constitutional vacuum” and pointed at President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for recent armed operations targeting former state leaders in Mogadishu.

The political condemnation followed a cabinet meeting in Garowe, led by Puntland’s Acting President and Vice President, Ilyaas Lugatoor. In a stern statement, the cabinet denounced “armed confrontations targeting civilians and former high-ranking officials” in the national capital, Mogadishu.

The statement directly attributed responsibility to President Mohamud for security forces’ operations on the homes of former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire in Mogadishu on Wednesday, resulting in intense clashes that persisted through Thursday morning.

Puntland Warns of Political and Security Collapse

Puntland cautioned that the nation was heading toward a perilous political and security collapse unless the political deadlock in Mogadishu is addressed. “Only an immediate consensus on long-overdue elections can avert further political and security decline,” the statement emphasized.

Tensions between the federal government in Mogadishu and Puntland have reached critical levels due to contentious amendments to the provisional constitution and the arrangements for imminent national elections.

The Puntland administration has previously accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of unlawfully remaining in office following the expiration of his four-year term on May 15, 2026, which it said coincided with the end of the mandates for Somalia’s federal institutions. Puntland maintained that the federal institutions have lost their constitutional legitimacy and does not recognize Hassan Sheikh as a legitimate president.

Puntland leader Said Abdullahi Deni has accused Mohamud of breaking the country apart, stating that the federal government’s actions under Mohamud have systematically dismantled the federal system and undermined the power-sharing arrangements that form the basis of Somalia’s post-conflict governance structure.

Growing Rift Between Mogadishu and Garowe

The rift between the federal government and Puntland has widened significantly in recent months. Puntland has withdrawn recognition of President Mohamud’s administration and has engaged in direct talks with international partners, including a high-level U.S. delegation that visited Garowe, bypassing Mogadishu in a manner that would have been unprecedented in earlier diplomatic contexts.

Former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has warned that Mohamud is standing where his political downfall could begin. “Today, when he stands and says he has added another year to his term, I believe he is standing in the very place where his political downfall could begin,” Sharif stated.

Constitutional Amendments and Electoral Disputes

The current political crisis stems from controversial constitutional amendments passed by parliament in March 2026, which extended the terms of both the president and parliament from four to five years. The changes have been fiercely rejected by Puntland, opposition figures, and other federal member states, who argue the moves lack national consensus and constitute an illegal power grab.

International partners including the UN, African Union, EU, IGAD, the United States, and the United Kingdom have urged renewed dialogue between the Somali government and opposition groups. The negotiations ended without a breakthrough on May 15, the same day President Mohamud’s four-year term expired under the 2012 Provisional Constitution.

Looking Ahead

Puntland’s latest statement underscores the deepening political fragmentation in Somalia. The regional state has called for immediate consensus on long-overdue elections, warning that failure to address the political deadlock could lead to further deterioration of security and governance across the country.

As tensions between Mogadishu and Garowe continue to escalate, diplomatic efforts by international partners to mediate the crisis have so far failed to produce a breakthrough. The United States and United Kingdom have both issued statements expressing alarm over the violence and calling for restraint, but there are no immediate signs that federal and regional leaders are prepared to resume negotiations.