WDM EDITORIAL
The political mishandling of SSC-KHAATUMO by the Puntland Government marks one of the most reckless and shortsighted decisions in Puntland’s recent history. After the heroic liberation of Laas Caanood—a victory made possible by the blood and determination of Puntlanders—the region stood at a historic crossroads. Two clear and strategic options were available for Puntland leadership. Both could have solidified Puntland’s legacy, protected its interests, and maintained unity in the northeast.
The first option was to reassert Puntland’s rightful claim over SSC territories with a nuanced approach—granting SSC a special self-governing administrative status under the Puntland constitutional framework. Such an approach would have honored the shared history, acknowledged SSC’s autonomy aspirations, and preserved Puntland’s sphere of influence in the region.
The second option was to embrace the newly declared SSC-KHAATUMO administration as a brotherly regional partner. By recognizing and working with SSC-KHAATUMO, Puntland could have created a stronger federalist bloc—one capable of resisting Villa Somalia’s creeping centralism, while deepening cultural, political, and economic cooperation with the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn communities.
But instead of decisive leadership, President Said Abdullahi Deni and his administration chose paralysis and political cowardice. They abandoned the moment to Mogadishu, allowing Villa Somalia to hijack SSC-KHAATUMO for its own ends. This betrayal of opportunity has only emboldened federal actors—especially the Damul Jadiid network, now tightening its grip on Laas Caanood with a vision of centralized control dressed as “self-rule.”
This is not just a blunder. It is a total collapse of Puntland’s policy doctrine, a self-inflicted wound that weakens Puntland’s strategic depth and federalist standing.
The consequences are now visible:
Anti-Puntland elements are regrouping, forming a new alliance of convenience in Laas Caanood, emboldened by Puntland’s absence.
Opponents of President Deni—from political veterans to marginalized communities—have found a unifying cause: the betrayal of SSC and the mismanagement of regional leadership.
Deni’s one-man governance model, much like that of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Villa Somalia, has alienated allies and suppressed open dialogue, reducing government to a club of cronies and loyalists with no strategic vision.
For over one and a half terms, President Said Abdullahi Deni presided over a growing security catastrophe in the Cal Miskaad Mountains—a catastrophe that flourished not in secrecy, but in full view of the Puntland government. While the international community kept a watchful eye, ISIS quietly entrenched itself in the rugged terrain of Bari Region, building infrastructure, intimidating local communities, and extorting the Puntland business sector in a campaign of mafia-style taxation.
The question is not how ISIS gained a foothold in Bari—but why the Puntland government under Deni allowed this to happen.
Instead of mounting a comprehensive and strategic counter-terrorism campaign, President Deni turned a blind eye. For years, no serious ground or intelligence operations were launched, and Puntland’s security apparatus became a shell of its former self—underfunded, politicized, and paralyzed by crony appointments and neglect. Local elders and business owners cried out for help. The administration responded with silence, denial, or empty rhetoric.
It wasn’t until Washington, Abu Dhabi, and Tel Aviv—yes, three foreign capitals—sounded the alarm that any meaningful action was taken. These powers recognized the global implications of an ISIS stronghold in Puntland’s mountains. They understood that the Bari Region had become a geopolitical security risk, not just to Somalia or the Horn of Africa, but to global shipping, intelligence interests, and counterterrorism priorities in the region.
Under foreign pressure, and only then, did Deni’s government reluctantly join the campaign to dismantle the threat. Even then, the coordination and leadership came not from Garowe, but from foreign intelligence and drone warfare, with Puntland playing a junior role in its own backyard.
This is more than an embarrassing lapse. This is a grave betrayal of Puntland’s people and its foundational duty to protect the region. When a president watches international terrorists build a network in his territory—and does nothing until the United States and UAE air forces and intelligence forced his hand—he has failed.
President Deni’s two-term legacy will be remembered not just for political mismanagement—but for allowing Puntland’s sovereignty and internal security to be compromised under his watch. His failure has cost Puntland dearly in credibility, security, and independence.
The time has come for a reckoning in Puntland governance. A leadership that waits for foreign powers to secure its territory is not a leadership—it is a liability. The fight against terrorism must begin with local responsibility, not outsourced urgency.
The people of Puntland must now ask themselves: who really governs this state? A president concerned with long-term stability and unity? Or a political operator obsessed with controlling power at any cost—even if it means forfeiting core territories and allies?
The writing is on the wall. Puntland must either course-correct immediately and re-engage with SSC-KHAATUMO in good faith, or it will become an increasingly isolated and irrelevant actor in the rapidly evolving federal map of Somalia.
History will not be kind to leaders who chose silence when bold leadership was required. And Puntland will not survive another term of miscalculation and detachment. The people deserve clarity, vision, and action—not abdication.
Warsame Digital Media Editorial Board
WDM Editorials | August 2025
[Article has been updated since posting.]
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 