Garowe (WDN)- Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni delivered one of the most consequential and confrontational speeches of Somalia’s current political era this week, accusing former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of dismantling the country’s federal system, violating constitutional agreements, destabilizing regional administrations, and pushing Somalia toward an unprecedented political crisis.
Addressing lawmakers during the opening of the 58th session of the Puntland Parliament in Garowe, Deni painted a stark picture of a nation increasingly consumed by constitutional disputes, institutional paralysis, and deepening mistrust between Mogadishu and the federal member states.
The speech, which lasted for an extended period and covered a broad range of political and security issues, reflected the growing frustration within Puntland’s leadership over what it views as the systematic erosion of the federal framework that emerged after years of reconciliation and state-building efforts.
According to Deni, the federal system was designed as a power-sharing arrangement intended to prevent the re-emergence of centralized rule and political domination by any single group or leader. However, he argued that those principles have been steadily undermined.
“The agreed federal constitutional order has been violated and weakened,” Deni declared. “A direct campaign is being waged against the federal system and against the administrations that form the foundation of Somalia’s federal structure.”
The Puntland president argued that what began as political disagreements has evolved into a broader struggle over the future character of the Somali state itself. He said Puntland would continue to resist what he described as a “political and constitutional hijacking” of the country.
Accusations of Political Engineering
Deni devoted a significant portion of his address to revisiting some of the most contentious political episodes of recent years, alleging that federal authorities have repeatedly used political and military pressure to reshape regional administrations.
Among the examples he cited was the confrontation in Ras Kamboni, a strategic area in Jubaland. According to Deni, federal intervention there resulted in the destruction of national military units and further deepened divisions within the country’s security apparatus.
He claimed that surviving forces eventually crossed into neighboring Kenya after suffering significant setbacks, describing the episode as a symbol of the growing breakdown in relations between Mogadishu and the federal member states.
The Puntland leader also revisited events in South West State, where he accused the federal government of removing a legitimate regional administration and replacing it with a political structure aligned with Villa Somalia. “The legitimate governing system that existed in South West State was dismantled and replaced by an administration created by the federal leadership itself,” Deni said.
The allegation echoes long-standing complaints from opposition politicians and federalism advocates who argue that Somalia’s regional administrations are increasingly vulnerable to interference from the center. For Puntland, the events in South West State are often cited as a warning of what can happen when federal institutions become instruments of political control rather than neutral constitutional bodies.
Stunning Piracy Allegation
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Deni’s speech was his allegation that federal authorities had enabled or facilitated the emergence of armed pirate networks operating along Somalia’s northeastern coastline.
While he did not present evidence during the address, the accusation was extraordinary given the international effort that has been invested over the past two decades in combating piracy off the Somali coast. If substantiated, such allegations would carry serious implications not only for Somalia’s domestic politics but also for regional security and international maritime trade.
Political observers noted that it is rare for a sitting regional president to level such serious accusations against the federal leadership in such a public forum.
Medical Evacuation Flights Allegedly Blocked
Deni’s speech became even more dramatic when he disclosed what could become one of the most controversial allegations in the ongoing dispute between Puntland and Mogadishu.
According to the Puntland president, aircraft assigned to evacuate wounded personnel from the frontlines of Puntland’s anti-ISIS campaign in the Cal Miskaad Mountains were denied permission to enter Somali airspace.
The claim immediately drew attention because Puntland has been conducting extensive military operations against ISIS militants entrenched in the mountainous region, operations that regional authorities frequently describe as contributing to both Puntland’s security and Somalia’s broader fight against terrorism.
According to Deni, the restrictions affected aircraft intended to transport wounded personnel from active combat zones. If confirmed, the allegation would raise serious questions about coordination between federal authorities and regional administrations during counterterrorism operations.
For many Puntland residents, the issue extends beyond politics and touches directly on the welfare of soldiers engaged in dangerous military campaigns.
Puntland Signals Greater Autonomy
The most politically significant moment of the speech came when Deni declared that Puntland would continue conducting its affairs as though it were an independent state until Somalia produces a government that enjoys broad national consensus and legitimacy.
“Puntland will act as an independent state until there is a Somali government that is agreed upon by all stakeholders,” Deni stated. The declaration is likely to fuel debate across Somalia regarding the future of the federal system and the increasingly strained relationship between Puntland and the Federal Government.
While Puntland stopped short of calling for secession, the statement reflected a profound loss of confidence in the current political order and signaled a determination to pursue greater autonomy until a political settlement is reached.
Deni’s remarks come at a time when Somalia’s political landscape appears more polarized than at any point in recent years. Disputes over constitutional amendments, electoral arrangements, federal powers, and the legitimacy of national institutions have pushed relations between the Federal Government, federal member states, and opposition groups to a critical point.
Efforts to revive dialogue have repeatedly stalled, while political rhetoric has become increasingly confrontational. For many analysts, the significance of Deni’s address lies not merely in the accusations themselves but in what they reveal about the state of the nation. The speech reflected a growing perception among key political actors that Somalia is no longer facing ordinary political disagreements but a fundamental crisis over constitutional order, governance, and legitimacy.
The Federal Government has not yet publicly responded to Deni’s allegations. However, the speech is almost certain to intensify political tensions and deepen debate about the future direction of the Somali state.
As mistrust widens and negotiations remain deadlocked, Deni’s address serves as a stark reminder that Somalia’s political crisis is entering an increasingly dangerous phase—one in which the struggle over federalism, power-sharing, and national legitimacy may determine the country’s future for years to come.
WardheerNews