Garowe (WDN) – Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has sharply criticized the Federal Government of Somalia’s push to implement universal suffrage, warning that elections whose outcomes are effectively predetermined cannot be considered democratic.

Speaking amid the deepening constitutional and political dispute between Garowe and Mogadishu, Deni said Somalia’s long-awaited transition to one-person, one-vote elections can only succeed if it is founded on political consensus, independent institutions, and genuine electoral competition.

“There is little value in announcing one-person, one-vote elections when everyone already knows who will win and which party will emerge victorious. That is not democracy,” Deni said. Deni emphasized that Puntland is not opposed to direct elections in principle. Rather, he argued that credible elections require a level playing field, an independent electoral commission, an impartial judiciary, and equal opportunities for all political parties and candidates.

According to the Puntland leader, Somalia has yet to establish the political, legal, and security foundations necessary to guarantee free and fair elections. He cited persistent insecurity, weak state institutions, and a lack of political trust as major obstacles that must be addressed before nationwide direct elections can be considered credible.

He also accused the Federal Government of focusing on building political support around selected individuals and favored parties instead of creating an environment in which all political actors can compete on equal terms.

Deni’s remarks reflect the widening political rift between the Federal Government and two of Somalia’s Federal Member States—Puntland and Jubaland—both of which continue to reject Mogadishu’s current electoral roadmap.

The two regional administrations argue that the proposed universal suffrage model lacks the broad political consensus required under Somalia’s federal framework. They have repeatedly insisted that any fundamental changes to the electoral system or the Provisional Federal Constitution should proceed only through inclusive negotiations involving all Federal Member States and key political stakeholders.

Both Puntland and Jubaland have also pointed to recent political developments in South West State, Galmudug, and Hirshabelle as evidence of what they describe as an increasing centralization of political power. Critics within the two administrations allege that regional elections have become tightly managed political processes in which candidates favored by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud are widely perceived to enjoy decisive institutional backing, creating the impression that electoral outcomes are effectively determined before a single vote is cast.

Federal authorities have consistently rejected allegations of political interference, maintaining that regional electoral processes are conducted in accordance with the law and constitutional procedures.

Concerns Over Federalism

Puntland and Jubaland have repeatedly warned that recent constitutional amendments and the Federal Government’s electoral agenda risk weakening Somalia’s federal system in favor of a more centralized model of governance.

Leaders in both states argue that Somalia’s federal structure was designed to ensure power-sharing among the country’s diverse regions and communities. They contend that any attempt to alter that constitutional balance without broad political consensus could deepen divisions within the federation.

These concerns have become even more pronounced following Somaliland’s continued pursuit of its separate political path, raising broader questions about the future cohesion of Somalia’s federal system. Political observers note that relations between Mogadishu and both Puntland and Jubaland are among the most strained since the adoption of the Provisional Federal Constitution.

Some regional leaders have privately and publicly warned that attempts by the Federal Government to unilaterally impose its electoral model could further destabilize the federation, particularly as Puntland and Jubaland continue to argue that the country’s federal compact is being steadily eroded.

Call for Political Dialogue

Deni stressed that Somalia’s future cannot be secured through political dominance or coercion but through dialogue, compromise, and respect for constitutional principles. “No one can govern Somalia through force alone. The country can only be built through consultation, the rule of law, and the will of the Somali people,” he said.

He called for renewed negotiations between the Federal Government, Federal Member States, opposition groups, and other stakeholders to reach a comprehensive political agreement on both the electoral process and constitutional review.

As Somalia moves toward another critical electoral cycle, the dispute over universal suffrage has evolved into a broader debate over the country’s constitutional future, the balance of power between Mogadishu and the Federal Member States, and the long-term viability of Somalia’s federal system. Whether the competing visions can be reconciled through dialogue—or whether the political divide will continue to widen—remains one of the country’s most consequential unresolved political challenges.

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