Somalia’s Puntland leader warns federal government ‘will no longer be considered in existence’ after May 15
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni has issued a stark warning that Somalia’s federal government will no longer be recognized if a broad political agreement is not reached before the end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term next month. Addressing regional troops at a military camp on Monday, Deni tied his remarks to […]
Black News 
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni has issued a stark warning that Somalia’s federal government will no longer be recognized if a broad political agreement is not reached before the end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term next month.
Addressing regional troops at a military camp on Monday, Deni tied his remarks to the May 15 deadline cited by opposition leaders and several federal member states, underscoring a deepening constitutional and political crisis.
“From the 15th of next month, should no broadly acceptable solution to all Somalis be reached, the federal government will no longer be considered in existence,” Deni said.
“Beyond that point, we will not look to the current leadership for a solution, but instead to the Somali people collectively and the regions.”
The Puntland leader stressed that his administration has a history of governing its own affairs independently and would continue to do so if necessary. He added that any federal leadership that abuses power will ultimately see its term end and face accountability.
Deni’s remarks come just days after Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre pushed back against claims that the president’s mandate expires in mid-May. Barre said the government will continue functioning as usual beyond that date, insisting the current administration still has one year remaining.
At the heart of the dispute is a controversial constitutional amendment approved by Somalia’s parliament in March. The change extends the terms of both the president and parliament from four years to five. The parliamentary speaker said the amendment took immediate effect, effectively granting the current leadership an additional year in office.
However, opposition figures and some regional states have rejected the revised constitution outright. They argue that the country must adhere to the provisional constitution adopted in 2012, under which the president’s term expires on May 15.
Those groups have warned that if no political consensus on elections is reached before the deadline, they will move to establish a parallel government – a step that could further fracture Somalia’s fragile federal system.
With both sides holding firm, the standoff highlights widening divisions over Somalia’s constitutional order and electoral process, raising fresh uncertainty about governance and stability in the country at a critical moment.
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