Hiiraan Online

Garowe (HOL) — Puntland Vice President Ilyas Lugatoor warned Monday that Somalia could slide back into the turmoil and statelessness that followed the collapse of its central government in 1991 if the country’s fragile federal system is not safeguarded.

Lugatoor accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of reversing national progress during his two terms in office. He said Mohamud had violated the constitution and disregarded political agreements that form the basis of Somalia’s federal model.

“Somalia’s statehood today is drifting toward the separatist vision declared by Somaliland in 1991, while Puntland has remained committed to defending federalism despite the heavy cost,” Lugatoor said.

Puntland’s friction with Mogadishu traces back to March 2024, when Puntland suspended cooperation with the federal government in protest over constitutional changes that many regional leaders believe centralize power in Mogadishu. Puntland has since withdrawn recognition of certain federal actions and demands that any constitutional modifications be approved via a nationwide referendum in which it participates.

He said that national resources are increasingly used as leverage against regions perceived as resisting federal overreach. Puntland also opposes the creation of a new “Northeast Somalia” regional administration (SSC-Khaatumo) over territories including Sanaag and Buuhoodle, which it regards as part of Puntland. Garowe accused the federal government of fueling regional conflicts by recognizing the administration.

Lugatoor warned that unless corrective steps are taken, regional administrations could pursue unilateral separatist agendas similar to Somaliland’s, further fragmenting the nation.

The vice president urged the establishment of an inclusive Somali state in which citizens share equally in national resources. He said Puntland stands ready to play its role in ensuring a fair and united system of governance.

The warning comes days after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told Al Arabiya that his government is in talks with Puntland and Jubbaland to ease tensions. He described the dialogue as essential for moving ahead with local council elections and national reforms, while cautioning regional states against blocking those efforts.

Somalia has struggled for decades to rebuild its state institutions following the 1991 collapse. The federal system, established in the early 2000s, was intended to accommodate the country’s diverse regions and prevent further fragmentation, but tensions between Mogadishu and federal member states remain a recurring source of political instability.