Garowe (WDN) – Puntland’s Ministry of Interior on Monday briefed the regional Parliament on proposed amendments to the Law on Regional Administration, Districts, and the Establishment of Local Governments, legislation that was recently distributed to lawmakers for review.

The proposed reforms would significantly restructure Puntland’s local governance system by reducing the size of district councils and introducing new procedures for electing municipal leadership.

Under the amendments, Puntland’s districts will continue to be categorized into three administrative grades—Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C—but each category will see a substantial reduction in the number of elected council members.

If approved:

• Grade A districts will have their local council membership reduced from 33 to 15 members.
• Grade B districts will see council seats cut from 27 to 13 members.
• Grade C districts will have their councils reduced from 21 to 11 members.

The draft legislation also proposes changes to the process for electing district mayors and council leadership.

One of the most notable reforms introduces a secret-ballot voting system for selecting district leaders if no political party secures more than 50 percent of the seats in the local council. The measure is intended to provide a clearer mechanism for resolving leadership contests in councils where no party commands an outright majority.

In addition, the amendments establish a 30-day deadline for the appointment or election of district leadership. Under the current law, no specific timeframe exists, allowing the process to remain open-ended.

The proposed changes form part of Puntland’s broader efforts to streamline local governance, improve administrative efficiency, and provide greater clarity in the formation of district administrations. The amendments will now undergo parliamentary scrutiny before lawmakers decide whether to approve the revised legislation.

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