Puntland Government moves to introduce popular elections for 2029 Polls

The Puntland government is preparing to introduce a proposal that would pave the way for a popular vote in the regional state’s 2029 elections, marking a significant shift from the indirect electoral system that has long been used in the administration.

According to Puntland officials, the draft resolution is scheduled to be presented to the Puntland House of Representatives on Monday for debate and approval. If passed, the proposal would establish a framework allowing citizens to directly elect members of parliament, replacing the traditional clan-based indirect electoral process.

President Said Abdullahi Deni has previously attempted to implement direct elections in Puntland, but those efforts faced strong opposition from political rivals and were ultimately not fully realized.

The renewed initiative comes as Puntland seeks to advance electoral reforms ahead of the next regional elections. Despite President Deni’s opposition to certain constitutional amendments approved at the federal level, his administration has revived plans for expanding public participation in Puntland’s electoral process.

Officials said President Deni recently met with parliamentary leaders to discuss the proposal and urged lawmakers to approve it promptly so preparations for the new electoral system can begin.

If implemented, Puntland citizens would directly elect members of the House of Representatives, who would then elect the President and Vice President of Puntland when the next elections are held in 2029.

The proposal is expected to be one of the key issues discussed during the upcoming parliamentary session in Garowe.

Mustaqbal