By Ahmed A. Yusuf
The Federal Government of Somalia is under growing scrutiny for what analysts are calling a reckless and destabilizing attempt to redraw regional boundaries between Puntland and SSC-Khaatumo, potentially igniting inter-regional conflict in an already volatile environment.
According to credible sources on the ground, federal authorities have launched a covert initiative aimed at shifting territorial loyalties in parts of the Sanaag and Highland regions—long administered by Puntland—toward the newly emerging SSC-Khaatumo administration. This move, shrouded in secrecy and lacking any form of public consultation, bottom up approach or constitution has sparked alarm across political circles and communities in Northern and North Eastern Somalia.
Federal and local-level delegations are reportedly being dispatched to towns and villages across these contested zones. Their mission: to convince, pressure, or incentivize local leaders to break away from Puntland and declare allegiance to SSC-Khaatumo. The strategy, sources say, is being orchestrated directly from Mogadishu, bypassing all formal federal-member state engagement protocols.
Puntland officials have expressed outrage over the maneuver, warning that such blatant interference in their territorial integrity could lead to armed confrontation. “What the federal government is doing is not just unconstitutional—it’s dangerous,” one Puntland political advisor said on condition of anonymity. “They are playing with fire in an already fragile region, simply to score political points.”
This comes at a time when the Federal Government—led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud—is facing widespread criticism for its centralized approach to governance and what many view as a campaign to weaken autonomous federal member states. By stoking tension between Puntland and SSC-Khaatumo, critics argue, Villa Somalia appears to be pursuing a divide-and-rule strategy that undermines national unity and erodes the trust necessary for any functioning federal system.
The Federal Government’s silence on the matter has only deepened concerns, as has its history of overreach. Just last year, it attempted to interfere in the internal politics of Jubaland, sparking similar accusations of manipulation and illegitimacy.
“There is no national dialogue, no legal framework, and no consultation with the people. What we’re witnessing is state-sponsored destabilization,” said a regional elder from Sanaag. “This is not federalism—it’s federal aggression.”
Puntland’s leadership has vowed to resist the move using all available political and legal means. However, given the emotional and historical weight attached to the territories in question, the situation could escalate quickly into violence if not immediately addressed through diplomatic and constitutional channels.
Many are now calling on international partners and regional bodies such as the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to intervene before the situation deteriorates further. Observers warn that any political instability or armed conflict between Puntland and SSC-Khaatumo would not only destabilize northern Somalia but could also provide an opening for extremist groups like Al-Shabaab and ISIS to exploit the chaos.
As Somalia struggles to assert control over its national territory and navigate a fraught post-transition era, the federal government’s apparent willingness to stoke internal divisions is a troubling sign.
In the absence of bottom up approach, transparency, consensus, and adherence to constitutional norms, the country risks unraveling the fragile progress made since the adoption of the federal system.
For now, the people of Sanaag and Highland remain caught in the middle—used as pawns in a dangerous political game that threatens to derail Somalia’s already delicate federal experiment.
Ahmed A. Yusuf
Email: aayuusuf44@gmail.com