Bosaso (WDN)– The Puntland Parliament leadership on Sunday formally welcomed a high-profile delegation of traditional elders from the regions of Sanaag and Haylaan, underscoring the continuing influence of clan leaders in Puntland’s political and social fabric.

The elders’ delegation, led by Suldaan Siciid Suldaan Cabdisalaam and Suldaan Maxamed Cabdullaahi Cartan, was received at Bosaso, Puntland’s economic hub and largest port city, by the Speaker of the Puntland Parliament, Cabdirisaaq Axmed Siciid, and First Deputy Speaker Maxamed Baarri Shire. The welcoming ceremony drew the participation of MPs from the Puntland House of Representatives, senior officials of the Puntland government, the Bosaso district administration, and representatives from civil society.

Addressing the reception, Deputy Speaker Maxamed Baarri Shire highlighted the pivotal role of traditional elders in maintaining Puntland’s stability. “The elders are a cornerstone of peace, unity, and cohesion in Puntland,” he said, emphasizing that their guidance continues to anchor the region’s governance and reconciliation processes.

The delegation of elders, speaking to the media after the ceremony, expressed gratitude for the warm reception from both the government and the public. They praised the solidarity shown by Puntland’s institutions, particularly the Parliament, for recognizing the central role of traditional leaders and  elders in fostering dialogue and safeguarding Puntland’s unity.

Traditional leaders hold significant sway across Somalia, often serving as mediators in conflicts, arbiters in community disputes, and voices of consensus in national and regional politics. In Puntland, their role is particularly crucial given the region’s history of clan-based reconciliation and its relative political stability compared to other Somali territories.

The visit of the Sanaag and Haylaan elders comes at a time of heightened political activity in Puntland, where the regional administration, led by President Said Abdullahi Deni, is navigating both internal challenges of the issue of the new State of Northeast in LasAnod and Puntland’s evolving relationship with Somalia’s federal government. Analysts note that the visible engagement of traditional leaders signals an effort to bolster unity and reaffirm Puntland’s long-standing reliance on customary authority alongside modern political institutions.

The reception underlined the city’s continued role as a stage for consensus-building and engagement between state institutions and traditional authorities.

WardheerNews