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.
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 