NAIROBI, Kenya – In a landmark realignment in the Horn of Africa, historic rivals Puntland and Somaliland have signed a security agreement in Nairobi on Sunday, formalizing a united front against what they view as the Somali federal government’s growing overreach in Mogadishu.
The pact marks a remarkable shift for the two northern Somali territories, long divided by armed clashes over contested land and political ambitions.
Driven by shared frustration toward the central government — known as Villa Somalia — the agreement reflects a rare convergence of interests following recent federal actions both administrations see as a direct challenge to their authority and territorial integrity.
The deal was triggered by the Somali Federal Government’s recent decision to formally recognize a new Northeast administration as a federal member state. The territory in question lies within a region historically claimed by both Puntland and Somaliland, fueling accusations that Mogadishu is deliberately stoking regional tensions to weaken its rivals.
Both Puntland and Somaliland swiftly condemned the move. Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991, regards the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC) regions as part of its sovereign territory, citing colonial-era boundaries.
Puntland, a semi-autonomous state within Somalia, also claims the area based on clan affiliation and previously administered parts of it.
This shared sense of betrayal from Mogadishu has forged the unlikely alliance. “The pact is a formal diplomatic signal that both administrations are prepared to act independently — and together — to resist what they see as the central government’s destabilizing influence,” a source familiar with the negotiations told reporters.
The signing of the security pact is particularly striking given the history of conflict between the two entities. Somaliland, a former British protectorate, has operated as a de facto state for more than three decades, with its own government and security forces, though it lacks international recognition. Its principal goal remains formal independence from Somalia.
Puntland, established in 1998 as a federal member state, remains officially part of Somalia but has repeatedly clashed with Mogadishu over issues of federalism and political power.
The two have fought intermittent battles in the SSC regions — a flashpoint that underscores the magnitude of their new cooperation. Their willingness to overcome decades of hostility signals the depth of their concern over the federal government’s recent actions.
The dispute over the Northeast administration highlights deeper structural tensions within Somalia’s fragile federal system.
For Puntland, the conflict with Mogadishu stems from fundamental disagreements over how power should be shared. Its leaders accuse the federal government of undermining the constitution and consolidating authority in violation of Somalia’s federal principles.
According to the International Crisis Group, these disputes continue to weaken the country’s state-building process.
For Somaliland, pressure from Mogadishu remains a persistent obstacle to its long-standing push for international recognition. The federal government has consistently worked to counter Somaliland’s diplomatic outreach — most recently by opposing a controversial port and naval base agreement that Somaliland signed with Ethiopia earlier this year.
Mogadishu condemned that deal as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty.