Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has called for urgent national talks to resolve Somalia’s election dispute, accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of obstructing negotiations over an agreed electoral process.
Deni made the appeal on Sunday while addressing the opening of the 59th session of Puntland’s parliament, warning that the country needed a political agreement to prevent further deterioration and safeguard state institutions.
“The Puntland government calls on all different segments of Somalia to come together urgently to save Somali statehood,” Deni said in remarks reported by Puntland authorities.
He said Somalia needed an electoral framework accepted by the country’s political stakeholders, amid mounting disagreements between the federal government, opposition figures and some regional administrations over how future elections should be organised.
Deni accused Hassan of refusing to hold elections based on a political consensus and of undermining negotiations intended to resolve disputes over the electoral process.
The Puntland leader did not provide details of a proposed conference, including its possible participants or timing, but urged Somali stakeholders to act quickly to address the impasse.
His remarks come as political tensions have intensified over constitutional changes, the distribution of powers between federal and regional authorities, and the timetable for the next federal elections.
Somalia’s federal government has announced that the presidential election will take place on May 15, 2027, while elections for the two houses of the federal parliament are scheduled for April 15, 2027.
The timetable has faced opposition from political figures who argue that major decisions on elections require broader consultations and an agreement among the country’s principal political stakeholders.
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The dispute reflects longstanding divisions over Somalia’s electoral system and the constitutional framework governing relations between Mogadishu and the country’s federal member states.
Puntland, a semi-autonomous state in northeastern Somalia, has been at odds with the federal government over constitutional amendments and the direction of the country’s political transition.
Deni has repeatedly called for political consensus on major national issues, arguing that decisions taken without broad agreement risk deepening divisions between federal authorities and regional administrations.
The federal government has maintained that elections must proceed within the country’s constitutional and institutional framework. However, disagreements over the process and the extent of political consultation have complicated efforts to establish a common approach.
It remains unclear whether Deni’s latest appeal will lead to an immediate meeting between the government, opposition leaders and regional administrations.
The call for urgent talks comes at a sensitive moment for Somalia, which has spent years rebuilding state institutions following decades of conflict and political fragmentation.
Reaching agreement on elections remains a central challenge for the country’s political leadership, with the outcome likely to shape relations between federal authorities and regional states as Somalia approaches the next electoral cycle.
Neither Hassan’s office nor the federal government’s response to Deni’s latest remarks was included in the information available on Sunday.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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