Garowe, Puntland – In a decisive step toward asserting administrative autonomy, Puntland’s Council of Ministers on Thursday approved a new regulation assigning full authority over residence permits and visas for foreigners to the State’s Ministry of Interior. The move underscores Puntland’s continued effort to manage its own internal affairs, including migration and identity registration, in line with its regional governance structure.
The decision, endorsed during a cabinet meeting chaired by President Said Abdullahi Deni, also confirmed that the Puntland Identity and Registration Agency (PID) will begin operations on January 1, 2026. The agency will be responsible for issuing identity documents, registering residents, and managing related digital systems. Officials say this marks a significant milestone in Puntland’s effort to modernize its administrative services and enhance border management.
This announcement comes amid ongoing tensions between Puntland and the Federal Government of Somalia over control of national programs, particularly regarding digital identity and visa systems. Puntland recently rejected both the federal government’s National ID initiative and the newly introduced E-Visa scheme, arguing that such programs must respect the federal structure and allow states to manage their own identification systems.
By establishing its own mechanisms, Puntland aims to strengthen institutional capacity, ensure local accountability, and tailor documentation systems to regional realities. For the thousands of foreigners—mainly traders, humanitarian workers, and investors—who travel through Bosaso Port and Airport each year, the change will mean that entry permits and residency processes will now be handled exclusively within Puntland’s administrative framework.
Analysts view this move as part of a broader strategy by Puntland to reaffirm its autonomy and streamline service delivery in areas under its jurisdiction, while still maintaining cooperation with the federal government on broader national matters.
With the PID set to launch in early 2026, Puntland is signaling its intent to take greater ownership of governance functions, particularly those tied to identity, security, and migration—core pillars of state authority in Somalia’s evolving federal system.
