PUNTLAND SITUATION REPORT Somali Law & Policy Program
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Over the course of the July reporting period, the peace and stability in Puntland State of Somalia remained steady and the overall situation gradually transformative. Puntland’s six-month old administration, under the leadership of state President Said Abdullahi Deni, made visible strides on reforms in key areas, with particular focus on appointing new faces to public administration, financial management, and the security sector. The government’s reform agenda focused on aligning qualified individuals with key technocrat positions; however, it remains to be seen if the new nominations will bear significant change on overall reform goals in improving public service and quality of life. Puntland’s relations with Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) was fraught with dramatic accusations and media propaganda, but the emergence of a continuous and unpredictable pattern of unstable relations was noted, signifying potentialchanges on the domestic policy platform but not necessarily a tangible change in federal-state disputes or resolving balance of power issues.
Throughout July, as in June, military tensions were again heightened in parts of Sanaag region; however, the fighting and associated tensions was between Somaliland troops and local militia led by rebel leader Col. Said Awil Jama ‘Arre’, while during June the military standoff was between Somaliland and Puntland sub-national forces in eastern Sanaag. The fighting, with layers traversing between clan conflict and political violence, poses significant threat and risks to peace and stability in northern Somalia.
There was were no major terror-related incidents during the reporting period in Puntland; state forces were reportedly conducting search-and-seizure operations and tightening security state-wide ahead of August 1 Puntland Day celebrations. Explosive information published by the New York Times revealed grave allegations that the Qatari ambassador to Somalia was aware of terrorism attacks in Puntland, in efforts to thwart the UAE’s involvement in the Somali state, including security sector support and DP World subsidiary P&O Ports’ Bossaso port expansion concession. Qatar and the Somali federal government denied the allegations, but Puntland President called for an “international investigation”, directly contradicting the FGS and illustrating how unresolved federal-state schisms often spill out onto the international diplomatic arena.
Puntland Parliament’s vote to impose higher tariffs on non-essential goods and products entering from Somaliland was not implemented, raising questions of the government’s capacity or commitment to enforce higher tariffs to protect local production and businesses. Puntland rejected recognition of the Federal Government’s Somaliland Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee, demanding a seat as stakeholder. However, the Federal Government’s direct donations to community groups in Puntland led to heightened disputes with Puntland officials, forming another layer in the prolonged federal-state saga.On a separate note, the government rightly focused on efforts to repair and rehabilitate key sections of the major north-south highway connecting Bossaso and Galkayo. During July, Puntland government engineers accompanied by Chinese construction firm CCECC engineers conducted a road repair assessment and Puntland Ministry of Public Works is expected to soon present the report’s data to the Council of Ministers.
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