Puntland FMS President Deni Rejects Claims of Anti-Somali Unity Agenda, Reaffirms Role in Nation-Building.

Puntland Federal Member State President Said Abdullahi Deni has strongly refuted suggestions that Puntland functions as a separatist project, declaring instead that the federal member state remains a key stakeholder in the construction of Somalia’s national governance.

Speaking at a regional security briefing, President Deni emphasized that Puntland’s contribution to the federal state-building process is too significant to ignore, noting its foundational role in efforts to restore and stabilize national institutions over the past two decades.

“Puntland is not a project against Somali unity. It is a central pillar in the Somali statehood project,” Deni stated, pushing back against narratives he described as divisive and misleading.

President Deni also voiced concerns over what he described as external threats targeting Puntland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Without naming specific actors, Deni accused unnamed elements of orchestrating political subversion in Puntland’s rural hinterlands — areas he referred to as “gaari-waag” (off-road zones) — which he described as strategically important.

“We will not allow anyone to undermine our unity or tamper with Puntland’s land,” said Deni. He warned that Puntland security agencies are closely monitoring individuals accused of inciting instability and vowed that legal actions would follow against any person or group involved in such activities.

Federal Tensions Over Sanaag and SSC-Khaatumo.

His comments come amid renewed tensions between Puntland and the Federal Government of Somalia, following reports of a federal initiative to incorporate Sanaag and Haylaan regions into the nascent SSC-Khaatumo administration.

Puntland FMS administration has publicly rejected the plan, insisting that Sanaag is an integral part of its territory. In recent days, Puntland deployed forces to key parts of Sanaag and barred federal officials from entering the region — actions that reflect the deepening political rift over territorial control and state formation.

Meanwhile, the SSC-Khaatumo consultative conference officially opened today in Laascaanood, with sources confirming that previous disagreements among local factions have largely been resolved. The conference is expected to finalize structures for the SSC-Khaatumo interim administration, further escalating political contestation in Somalia’s northeastern corridor.

Puntland, established in 1998, has long played a stabilizing role in Somalia’s federal experiment. However, disputes over resource control, border demarcation, and competing political interests continue to test its relationship with the federal government — particularly in contested regions like Sanaag.

Today’s developments highlight the growing strain between federalism and regional autonomy, with Puntland asserting its historical claims while the federal government seeks to accommodate emerging political realities in the north.

Mustaqbal