GAROWE, Somalia – The Puntland administration has firmly reiterated its claim over the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC) regions, declaring that these territories remain an integral part of Puntland under its constitution.
The statement comes in direct response to the Federal Government of Somalia’s recent recognition of the SSC-Khaatumo administration as a full-fledged Federal Member State.
Puntland’s Minister of Information, Maxamuud Caydiid Dirir, stressed that no legal or constitutional process has occurred to separate the SSC regions from Puntland.
“SSC is constitutionally part of Puntland. There has been no withdrawal or breakaway. Puntland was established through a social agreement reflected in our constitution, which includes all its founding regions. That constitution remains in effect and has not been amended,” Dirir said during a press briefing in Garowe.
He further criticized what he described as attempts by SSC-Khaatumo leaders to lay claim to areas of Puntland, particularly parts of the Sanaag region, calling such efforts unacceptable and destabilizing. Dirir underscored that any change to Puntland’s territorial boundaries must result from inclusive consultation and consensus among its people.
While Puntland had previously avoided issuing a formal response to the federal government’s recognition of SSC-Khaatumo, this latest statement clearly rejects its legitimacy. The SSC-Khaatumo administration has yet to respond publicly to Puntland’s remarks.
SSC-Khaatumo officials, for their part, have defended their engagement with the federal government, arguing that Puntland had previously sidelined them in key decisions. They maintain that their participation in federal processes is a rightful assertion of their autonomy and representation.
The Federal Government’s endorsement of SSC-Khaatumo as a Federal Member State has raised tensions between the two administrations, with observers warning that the escalating dispute risks undermining stability and governance in the region.