The Presidents of Puntland and Jubbaland, Said Abdullahi Deni and Ahmed Mohamed Islam, held a strategic consultative summit in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, from June 23 to 25, 2025. The summit focused on Somalia’s political and security landscape, particularly the fight against terrorism and the challenges facing the federal state-building process.
Key Outcomes of the Summit:
1.Commendation of Anti-Terror Efforts: The summit praised the significant progress made by Puntland, Jubbaland, and their citizens in combating Al-Shabaab and ISIS. The leaders emphasized that Somalia can defeat terrorism through unity, determination, and honest leadership. They also welcomed ongoing efforts by Somali security forces and civilians in other regions.
2.Commitment to Federalism and Unity: Both states reaffirmed their dedication to a united and democratic Somalia built on the foundations of the 2012 Provisional Constitution. They called on the Federal Government to respect this constitution and uphold the principles of federalism.
3.Rejection of Unilateral Constitutional Amendments: Puntland and Jubbaland declared that any amendments made to the Provisional Constitution without broad consensus are null and void. They stressed that only a public referendum can alter the foundational articles of the constitution.
4.Call for Constitutional Adherence: The summit urged strict adherence to both federal and member state constitutions. According to Article 142(1), member states retain their constitutional powers until harmonization is achieved.
5.Encouragement of Democratic Elections: The two states encouraged other Federal Member States to conduct timely elections for their legislative and executive branches and to establish electoral commissions in accordance with their laws.
6.Support for Local Elections: To strengthen democratic governance, the summit urged states that have not yet held local elections to do so. Puntland offered to support other states in implementing one-person, one-vote systems by sharing its experience and legal frameworks.
7.Appeal to the Federal President: The leaders called on the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia to respect the 2012 Constitution, safeguard national unity, and listen to the voices of Somali leaders and intellectuals to preserve the country’s statehood.
8.Support for National Dialogue: The summit welcomed efforts by the National Salvation Council and other leaders working to resolve Somalia’s political and security uncertainty and to ensure inclusive, timely elections.
9.Diplomatic Engagement: Puntland and Jubbaland appreciated the efforts of international partners to support an inclusive state-building process. They clarified that the Federal Government does not represent them in decisions made without their participation.
10.Condemnation of Aid Politicization: The summit condemned the misuse of international aid by the Federal Government for political purposes. They urged international donors to reconsider aid delivery mechanisms and engage directly with Federal Member States until a comprehensive agreement on resource and power sharing is reached.
11.Condemnation of Airspace Mismanagement: Puntland and Jubbaland expressed concern over the Federal Government’s misuse of the four key powers granted by the Provisional Constitution—particularly the management of Somalia’s airspace. They accused the Federal Government of weaponizing airspace control to politically and economically marginalize dissenting Federal Member States. The two states strongly condemned these actions and announced they have formally submitted a complaint to the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization (UN ICAO).
