Urgent Need for Administrative Reforms and Capacity-Building in Puntland
Warsame Digital Media | Uncategorized | February 28, 2021
A Glimpse into Puntland’s Administrative Challenges
February 2019
I am in Garowe, the capital of Puntland State of Somalia, staying at one of the city’s decent hotels. Despite its comforts, my nights are plagued by mosquito bites, forcing me to resort to a mosquito net for relief.
This morning, I woke up at 7 AM, eager to renew my vehicle’s circulation permit. Stepping outside, I was met with thick fog—so dense that the ground appeared wet, as if it had rained overnight. Yet, a passerby confirmed there had been no rain.
The windshield of my car was covered in dew, and I had to use the wipers to clear my view. Around me, schoolchildren hurried to their classes, shivering in the cold but dressed too lightly, likely anticipating the scorching midday heat—a correct assumption, as it turned out.
A Visit to the Ministry of Transport: A Symbol of Institutional Decay
I drove straight to the Ministry of Transport, only to find the compound gate closed. The watchman informed me there was no electricity but allowed me inside to see for myself.
The scene inside was disheartening:
• Abandoned vehicles, covered in dust, occupied a third of the compound.
• A few elderly men, likely retired civil servants, loitered aimlessly.
• Three young men sat on plastic chairs, engrossed in their smartphones.
• Open office doors revealed no activity—no movement, no urgency.
It was 8 AM, yet the ministry felt lifeless.
I approached the young men and asked, “How can I renew my road stamp?”
“There’s no electricity to process it,” one replied.
“Will power be restored soon?” I asked.
“No,” came the blunt response.
“What are my options, then?”
“Try the checkpoint outside the city,” one suggested.
The Checkpoint: A Glimmer of Functionality Amid Disorder
I drove to a taxation checkpoint on the western outskirts of Garowe, along the Galkayo highway. The “Office of Land Taxation” was housed in cramped, squatter-like huts. Inside one marked “Xafiiska Canshuurraha Berriga,” I found:
• Two men playing cards at a wooden table at 8:15 AM.
• A teenager behind a dust-covered computer monitor.
“Do you issue vehicle stickers here?” I asked.
“Yes,” the older man said without looking up. “Give your papers to the boy.”
The boy examined my old receipts. “You owe money!” he exclaimed.
“Yes, that’s why I’m here,” I replied, relieved that at least this office had electricity and a working computer.
As he processed my payment, I glanced around. The room was cluttered with mattresses, dirty bedsheets piled against the wall, and plastic chairs scattered near outdated computer terminals.
Finally, after settling my dues, I left—mission accomplished, but with lingering concerns.
The Path Forward: Reforms and Capacity-Building
This experience underscores Puntland’s pressing need for deep administrative reforms and civil service capacity-building. From inefficient ministries to under-resourced checkpoints, systemic issues hinder progress.
To move forward, Puntland must:
• Modernize government offices with reliable infrastructure (electricity, digital systems).
• Enhance workforce professionalism, reducing idleness and improving efficiency.
• Streamline public services to eliminate unnecessary hurdles for citizens.
Without these changes, Puntland’s potential will remain stifled by avoidable bureaucratic failures.

https://ismailwarsame.wordpress.com/2019/02/28/badly-needed-administrative-reforms-in-puntland/

I critically think that Kenya is engaged in this escalation based on the following considerations:

1. Kenya is nervously anticipating unfavorable decision by ICJ on the maritime dispute between the two neighboring countries. Kenya has opted to make noises on the issue in advance.

2. Kenya seemed rattled by the recent major international conference in London on oil and gas potential in Somalia. Kenya is trying to intimidate oil and gas companies away from securing concessions of new blocks.

3. Kenya seizes expanisionist opportunities in weak and fragile Somalia. Kenyan new diplomatic offensive is tatamount to extortion and blackmail while KDF ( Kenyan Defense Forces are in parts of Somalia as a component of AMISOM.

4. Kenya, however, has dynamic internal constituencies and powerful legislative House to deliberate on issues, not there to rubber-stamp executive decisions.

5. The Kenyan-Somali constituency, the movement of goods and ideas between countries and within the each country, and multi-level inter-links between the two peoples, especially in trade and commerce are strong enough deterrent against the new Kenyan rhetoric, diplomatic tension and escalation.

I therfore believe that the Kenyan diplomatic campaign will backfire in the end. Somali authorities should try to descalate the situation, but lead an effective and quite diplomatic strategy to counter this national threat.

Nowadays, Garowe, the Capital City of the State of Puntland, becomes a playground for witchcraft by a person of dubious background and character. A crowd of women flock together everyday to hear recitation of the man. Sometimes these women make traffic jams along the narrow roads of the city when they are let go and the experience is adjourned for the next day. Security forces are oblivious to the daily exercises of the man.

There is no any sort of celebration in Garowe, and to greater extent, in Puntland, to welcome either the election of President Deni or the newly appointed Cabinet. Some persons are disappointed because they were left out against their expectation, but most importantly, the people of Puntland feel that the New Cabinet qualitatively would not move Puntland to the next level, although there is a few good figures in the Council.

The good news is, however, residents of Puntland historically give any new leader of Puntland the benefit of the doubt and space until he proves otherwise.

Hopefully, people will keep their cool and give the Cabinet and President a chance to perform and prove themselves.