Garowe (KAAB TV) – The Puntland Ministry of Internal Affairs has reaffirmed Puntland’s stance that any law not mutually agreed upon is not applicable to the region. As such, the Ministry has declared that it does not recognize or implement the controversial national identity card registration law within its territories.

In a statement, the Ministry urged the Puntland community to be cautious and avoid participating in the registration process, emphasizing the following concerns:

The data collected through the registration is neither secure nor stored safely.
The registration process is politically motivated, aiming to facilitate artificial elections that have not been agreed upon. It is seen as a distraction from the country’s real issues, including insecurity and divisions within the Somali community.
The project is perceived as a wealth accumulation initiative, imposing additional burdens on a population already struggling with security and economic challenges.

The Ministry reaffirmed that Puntland will continue to prioritize the development of its interests, focusing on enhancing security, completing the democratic process and elections, fostering economic growth, and introducing a Puntland-specific ID card (Puntland State ID).