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| Africa Horn |
| Somalia: Puntland Accuses President Hassan Sheikh of Fueling Piracy and Undermining Federalism |
| 2026-06-16 |
Because the endless war against Al Shabaab isn’t enough trouble in that troubled corner of the world? [Garowe] Puntland...a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998. Puntland and the equally autonomous Somaliland seem to have avoided the clan rivalries and warlordism that have typified the rest of Somalia, which puts both places high on the list for Islamic subversion... President Said Abdullahi Deni on Monday delivered one of his strongest attacks yet against term-ended Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing him of creating armed pirate groups, dismantling the country's federal system, and destabilising regional administrations across Somalia. Speaking at the opening of Puntland's parliamentary session in Garowe city, Deni said the federal government had abandoned the power-sharing arrangement that underpins Somalia's federal structure and was pursuing policies aimed at concentrating power in Mogadishu. He accused Hassan Sheikh of carrying out what he described as a "political and legal hijacking" of the country's agreed constitutional framework, insisting that Puntland would neither recognise nor accept measures it viewed as violating the federal pact. "Puntland has stood against the political and legal abduction committed against the agreed system of governance, and we will continue to resist it," Deni told politicians. In his most serious allegation, the Puntland leader claimed that the Somali president had "openly created piracy," accusing him of being behind gangs that attacked maritime traffic operating in international waters and along Somalia's coastline. "He has launched a direct assault on the federal system and the administrations operating in the country," Deni said. "He openly created pirates. Earlier, he carried out an armed attack in Ras Kamboni in which Somali citizens were killed." Deni also accused the federal leadership of engineering political unrest in the southwestern city of Baidoa, alleging that it had orchestrated a "political coup" that dismantled the established governance structure in South West State. The remarks mark a further deterioration in relations between Puntland and the federal government, which have been strained by disputes over constitutional amendments, elections and the distribution of power between Mogadishu and regional states. The federal government had not immediately responded to Deni's accusations. The exchange highlights the growing political rift within Somalia at a time when the country faces major security challenges, including the ongoing fight against Islamist bully boyz and efforts to strengthen state institutions after decades of conflict. Related: Puntland: 2026-06-13 Talks to Free Egyptian Sailors Held by Somali Pirates Collapse Over Ransom Dispute Puntland: 2026-06-10 Saudi-backed ''Emergency'' forces storm residential neighborhoods in Seiyun — Hodhod Yemen News Agency Puntland: 2026-06-03 Unsuccessful Congolese government offensive against Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in eastern DRC, US govt sanctions M23 and FDLR commanders |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #2 |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2026-06-16 19:05 |
| #1 |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2026-06-16 11:21 |