Deni Defies Federal Government, Champions Jubaland’s Push for Independent

Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni expressed his strong support for Jubaland’s decision to conduct independent elections without interference from Somalia’s Federal Government. Speaking at the Puntland Parliament in Garowe, Deni affirmed that his administration stands as a “support and shield” for Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe and his commitment to hold lawful elections in Jubaland, stressing the importance of respecting the autonomy of Somali regional states.

President Deni emphasized that the Federal Government lacks constitutional authority to interfere with member states’ elections, asserting that such interference contravenes the federal framework. He also accused Somalia’s federal leadership of seeking unconstitutional term extensions for regional states—a move he labeled as a strategy to consolidate control over the election process by delaying regional votes.

This address comes as tensions between Somali federal authorities and regional administrations continue to grow. Deni notably criticized the National Consultative Council’s ongoing discussions, describing them as “out of touch” with the interests of the Somali people. The council, convened to address Somalia’s electoral process and security issues, has seen limited regional support, with Jubaland’s President Madobe notably walking out of recent talks in Mogadishu.