Nairobi (Somalia Today) — Somalia’s rival northern regions, Puntland and Somaliland, announced a security agreement amid tensions with Mogadishu over a new federal state in the northeast.
The accord, released Sunday, comes as both administrations dispute the federal government’s recognition of Northeast State. Puntland and Somaliland denounced the move as an encroachment on their authority.
United by opposition to Mogadishu
Often at odds over territory and recognition, the two self-governing regions now share a goal: resisting federal overreach.
Both administrations were “equally angered” by recognition of the Northeast State, which each claims as part of its jurisdiction.
Diplomatic sources and regional analysts said the pact signals coordination aimed at showing independence from Villa Somalia, the presidential complex in Mogadishu.
“This is less about trust between Puntland and Somaliland, and more about sending a message to Mogadishu,” said a political observer in Garowe. “They are asserting autonomy in the face of a central government they see as increasingly intrusive.”
The dispute centers on Sool, Sanaag, and parts of Togdheer, territories claimed by both sides.
In August 2025, elders and politicians in Las Anod declared the reconstitution of the SSC-Khaatumo administration as a federal member state named Northeast State. Within weeks, the federal government extended recognition, drawing sharp condemnation from Puntland and Somaliland.
Puntland called the decision unconstitutional, arguing that no new state can be created without broad local consensus or parliamentary approval. Somaliland called it a “provocative act” that undermines its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Tensions over territory and power
Recognition of the new state has redrawn fault lines in Somalia’s fragile federal system. For Mogadishu, it reaffirms central authority. For Puntland and Somaliland, it alters borders and dilutes their influence.
For decades, both regions have competed for the same frontier. Puntland’s claim rests on clan lineage among Harti Darod communities. Somaliland bases its case on colonial-era boundaries of British Somaliland.
Las Anod remains the flashpoint.
Fighting there in 2023 displaced thousands as Somaliland forces battled local militias aligned with SSC-Khaatumo. Puntland initially backed SSC-Khaatumo as a buffer against Somaliland. However, the alignment broke after Mogadishu recognized the group as a federal entity.
Relations between Puntland and the federal government deteriorated further in 2024 after constitutional amendments centralized presidential power. Puntland suspended cooperation with federal institutions, saying it would act as an independent government until a new agreement is reached.
Strategic pact and potential risks
Under the agreement, Puntland and Somaliland plan to coordinate security operations, share intelligence, and monitor border movements in contested zones.
Analysts view the deal as strategic, not reconciliatory, a bid by two rivals to gain leverage in dealings with Mogadishu.
Risks remain. Hardliners in both camps may view cooperation as betrayal, unsettling local politics. International observers warn that the step could complicate United Nations- and regional-partner-mediated mediation.
“Both sides are trying to protect what they see as theirs,” said a Somali security analyst. “But cooperation born out of resentment rarely lasts without trust and clear goals.”
The pact highlights the fragility of Somalia’s federal system, strained by competing claims of power and legitimacy.
For President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration, it underscores how distrust among regional states threatens national coordination while Somalia battles Al-Shabaab and transitions from ATMIS to the new AUSSOM stabilization force.
If Puntland and Somaliland translate their accord into sustained cooperation, the political map of northern Somalia could shift. Overcoming mistrust and long-running territorial disputes remains a difficult task.
