Puntland President Deni says he Will not seek a third term

Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has indicated that he will not seek a third term in office, saying his political party, Kaah, will field another candidate in the next Puntland presidential election.

Deni made the remarks on Monday evening while addressing hundreds of young people from the Mudug region in Galkayo. He said Puntland’s Constitution allows a president to serve a maximum of two terms and noted that he has already been elected twice.

“The Constitution allowed me to serve two terms as president of Puntland, and I have been elected twice. I have two and a half years remaining. Whoever wants the position should come forward. There will be a free election held on time, and our party will have a candidate whom we will build and support,” Deni said.

Deni first became president of Puntland in January 2019 and was re-elected for a second term in January 2024. His current term therefore remains ongoing.

His comments come amid an intense political debate in Puntland over the future leadership of the regional administration and the next presidential election. Opposition figures have previously expressed concern over any attempt to extend the president’s mandate or circumvent the constitutional two-term limit.

Deni’s latest remarks appear to reaffirm his position that the election will be held within the constitutional framework and at the scheduled time, while also signaling that the Kaah party intends to prepare a candidate to succeed him.

The statement has already generated considerable discussion in Puntland, particularly over whether Deni will indeed stay out of the next presidential race and who could emerge as the Kaah party’s candidate.

The announcement could also reshape the political landscape ahead of the election, as political groups begin positioning themselves for a contest that is expected to attract significant interest across Puntland.

Mustaqbal