Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – In a joint press statement delivered this morning in Garowe, the Presidents of Puntland and Jubbaland, Saeed Abdullahi Deni and Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe), sharply criticized the Federal Government of Somalia, accusing it of misusing its constitutional powers to pressure federal member states that hold differing political views.
The two regional leaders voiced concerns about what they described as a pattern of overreach by the central government, particularly in relation to the management of national resources and airspace. They urged the international community to engage directly with federal member states, rather than solely through the central government, especially in matters concerning the equitable distribution of Somalia’s national resources.
A major point of contention raised in the statement was Somalia’s airspace management. Presidents Deni and Madobe accused the Federal Government of unlawfully asserting control over air traffic services, violating the spirit of federalism. They revealed that formal complaints have been submitted to the United Nations agency responsible for civil aviation, requesting intervention and clarification on the matter.
The leaders also expressed strong dissatisfaction with recent changes to Somalia’s Provisional Constitution, stating that the amendments were implemented unilaterally and without the inclusive consultation that is essential in a federal system. They insisted that constitutional changes must only occur through a transparent, national consensus process.
In their statement, Deni and Madobe welcomed the efforts of the National Rescue Forum—a coalition of opposition politicians—emphasizing the need for broad-based dialogue and inclusive political solutions to Somalia’s ongoing challenges.
Concluding their remarks, the two presidents called on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to uphold the constitutional agreements that form the foundation of Somalia’s federal system. They stressed the urgency of conducting credible and consensual elections. Should these constitutional principles and processes continue to be disregarded, they warned, Puntland and Jubbaland would be compelled to exercise the full powers granted to them by their regional constitutions.
This public declaration highlights the growing rift between Somalia’s federal member states and the central government, underlining the urgent need for renewed dialogue and genuine power-sharing to safeguard national unity and stability.
