Garowe (WDN) – Puntland has suspended the operations of several humanitarian organizations working within its territory, accusing them of abandoning their humanitarian mandates and becoming entangled in Somalia’s political affairs.

The announcement marks a significant escalation in Puntland’s increasingly strained relationship with both the Federal Government of Somalia and sections of the international aid community.

Puntland’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Abdinasir Haji Yusuf, said organizations implementing projects that do not reflect Puntland’s development priorities or address the region’s humanitarian needs will no longer be permitted to operate.

“We are informing humanitarian organizations, particularly those implementing development projects, that any project which does not serve Puntland’s interests has been halted in our territory,” the minister said. He described the decision as a necessary step to safeguard Puntland’s interests and ensure that international assistance benefits the region’s population rather than advancing political agendas.

Puntland also renewed longstanding complaints over what it describes as an inequitable allocation of international aid to Somalia. According to Puntland officials, the state receives only about one percent of the international assistance allocated to Somalia, while the overwhelming majority is directed toward southern regions of the country.

The administration accused the Federal Government and some international organizations of allowing political considerations to influence the distribution of humanitarian and development assistance, rather than allocating resources based on objective assessments of humanitarian need.

Puntland officials argued that aid should be distributed transparently and equitably, ensuring that all Somali communities receive assistance according to need rather than political affiliation or geographic preference.

Calls for Reform

The regional government called for a comprehensive review of Somalia’s aid allocation mechanisms, urging international donors and humanitarian agencies to adopt a transparent, needs-based system that guarantees fair access to assistance across all regions.

The decision comes amid an ongoing political standoff between Puntland and the Federal Government over constitutional reforms, power-sharing, and the broader federal governance model.

As of publication, neither the Federal Government of Somalia nor the humanitarian organizations affected by Puntland’s decision had issued an official response to the allegations or the suspension order.

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