Puntland Faces Scrutiny Over Unaccounted Fishing Licence Revenues

[Deeq A.]

President Said Abdullahi Deni faces questions over why coastal districts and villages in Puntland remain underdeveloped, despite the Federal Member State earning its highest revenues from fishing licences granted to foreign companies.

Garowe (PP Commentary) — Fishinglicences issued by Puntland State of Somalia to foreign companies remain the stumbling block to good governance. In 2022, parliamentarians in Garowe expressed concerns about the lack of accountability in the process to award fishing licences and the unwillingness of the Ministry of Fisheries to be transparent about it. Since 2009 every Puntland president has inherited the problem of fishing licences issued by the predecessor, in addition to those issued during his  own mandate.

Not a single dollar from fishing licences has reached the Puntland State coffers. This trend has weakened Puntland standing within the Federal Government of Somalia. Last year, the Financial Governance Committee urged Puntland to harmonise its fishing licensing processes with those of other Federal Member States. Donors believe that, because of its long coastline, Puntland earns substantial amounts of money from fishing licences.

Yesterday, fishermen in Baarmadoobe, a coastal village in Haafuun district, accused Puntland’s Minister of Fisheries, Abdirisaq Abdullahu Hagaa, of “personally issuing fishing licences to Iranian and Chinese trawlers”. It is worth noting that the Federal Government of Somalia issued fishing licences in 2018. It is unclear if the Chinese vessels allegedly fishing off Puntland’s coast hold Puntland-issued licences. Legally, they can fish in Puntland waters if they hold a licence issued by the Federal Government of Somalia. The silence of Puntland authorities on its licensing process makes the situation even murkier.

The counter-terrorism operations being carried out by Puntland State forces in Almiskaad will not produce the desired results if the public is deprived of the right to know how the government manages fees generated from fishing licences issued since 2005.

The Financial Governance Committee, composed of representatives from the Federal Government of Somalia, the World Bank, the IMF and a donor delegate, expects Puntland to disclose its revenue streams, particularly the fees collected from fishing licences. By failing to disclose this information, Puntland denies its people development and budgetary support similar to that given to other Federal Member States.

Coastal districts and villages remain the least developed areas in Puntland. Political representatives from these areas share the blame for diverting fees paid by licensees whose fishing vessels allegedly deplete Puntland’s coast in violation of Puntland’s Fisheries Regulation. President Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland State of Somalia would do well to call for a consultative conference to address the misuse of fees from fishing licences issued in the name of Puntland State.

© Puntland Post, 2025

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