Dr Guled Salah Barre Urges Public Debate on Governance and Federalism in Puntland

[Deeq A.]

Dr Barre’s thoughtful criticisms could prompt wider public debate on constitutional reform and inclusive governance, crucial steps towards addressing Puntland’s political and economic stagnation.

Garowe (PP Editorial) — Dr Guled Salah Barre, a vocal critic of the President of Puntland, formerly served as Chairman of the Puntland Electoral Commission (PEC). Shortly after his resignation from the PEC, he publicly accused President Said Abdullahi Deni of manipulating the 2021 pilot local government elections to benefit Kaah, then a political association. He alleged that Deni used his position to bolster Kaah’s performance, undermining the credibility of the process.

Dr Barre further criticised President Deni for unilaterally selecting Puntland’s 2022 Federal Members of Parliament and Senators. Many believed President Deni had a strong chance of winning the Somalia presidency, having influenced the 2022 electoral model which granted Federal Member State parliaments the power to select MPs and Senators for the bicameral legislature in Mogadishu. His defeat, however, contributed to the deterioration of Puntland’s relations with the Federal Government of Somalia.

Dr Barre is a prominent scholar, founder of SIDRA, a Garowe-based think tank, and an alumnus of the United Nations University for Peace (UPEACE), where he earned his PhD. His book, Federalism Imperative in Post-Conflict Africa: The Case of Somalia, draws from his doctoral research and explores federalism in the Somali context.

The 1998 Puntland State Charter upheld Somali national symbols such as the flag and anthem.

Puntland, long a proponent of federalism since its formation in 1998, initially upheld Somali national symbols such as the flag and anthem. However, its current Constitution, amended and ratified in 2012, omits any reference to the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Dr Barre has consistently campaigned against Puntland’s political structure, which concentrates unchecked authority in the executive. He argues this system allows the President to dominate the legislature, judiciary, and oversight institutions such as the Auditor General’s Office.

The amended Constitution has effectively transformed the state into a personal fiefdom of any incumbent president.

President Deni’s decision to sever ties with the Federal Government of Somalia, regardless of its consequences for people in Puntland, demonstrates the overreach enabled by the current constitutional arrangement. Former Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke recently said  that former Puntland President, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, rejected the inclusion of Puntland’s maritime territory in a federal offshore oil exploration deal.

Every Puntland President has invoked sub-article 7 of Article 80 of the Puntland Constitution, which states:

“The President shall negotiate the terms of participation of Puntland State in the Somalia Federal Republic and sign agreements with the federal authorities, which shall require ratification by the Council of Ministers and the House of Representatives.”

A timely book on the Somali federal system.

In 2022, during an official visit to Garowe by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, concerns resurfaced about the growing centralisation of power in Puntland. The amended Constitution has effectively transformed the state into a personal fiefdom of any incumbent president. Puntland now operates well below the standards of a centralised polity, let alone a functional federal entity.

Despite being a Federal Member State, Puntland’s Constitution fails to recognise the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia, raising questions about its commitment to federalism and democratic governance.

Dr Barre’s well-reasoned criticisms have the potential to spark a broader public dialogue on constitutional reform and inclusive governance, essential steps to overcoming political and economic stagnation in Puntland.

© Puntland Post, 2025

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