Puntland Information Minister Contradicts Official Stance on SSCK Autonomy

[Deeq A.]

Despite Puntland’s prior recognition of SSCK’s autonomy under the 2023 Laascaanood Declaration, Information Minister Mohamud Aidid falsely insists the regions are “constitutionally part of Puntland”, a position that does not alter SSCK’s federal member status endorsed by the Federal Government of Somalia.

Garowe (PP News Desk) — The Information Minister of Puntland State, Mohamud Aidid, yesterday claimed that Sool, Sanaag, Cayn, and Khaatumo is “constitutionally part of Puntland State.”

Aidid, who is affiliated with the SSCK administration, made a statement that contradicts the official position of Puntland, which recognised SSCK as a separate administration following the Laascaanood Declaration of 6 February 2023.

He further stated that the 1998 Charter of Puntland “remains valid” and that “no arrangements have been made to facilitate the breakup of Puntland into two separate administrations.”

Puntland has not issued any statement rejecting the federal member status conferred on SSCK by the Federal Government of Somalia. Neither the pro-Union Charter of Puntland nor the pro-secession amended Constitution of Puntland is binding on the SSCK constituencies.

Puntland was established in 1998 after the Harti sub-clans agreed to form an autonomous administration, during a period when Somalia lacked a fully functioning government. “Both the Charter and the Constitution of Puntland are essentially customary frameworks, dependent on ongoing support from sub-clans. Now, the entire federal model proposed in the original Charter may be reconfigured, given that its founding stakeholders have politically opted to terminate the agnatic political partnership that has contributed to Puntland’s political stagnation,” said a former researcher of  PDRC in Garowe.

© Puntland Post, 2025

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