WDM Editorial: Puntland’s Mogadishu-Based Opposition — Agents of Disruption, Not Reform

By Ismail H. Warsame, City of Qardho, Karkaar Region

In a fresh display of political blindness, a cluster of self-styled “Puntland opposition parties,” mostly operating from Mogadishu hotel lobbies and political backrooms, have voiced their opposition to the recent Puntland–Somaliland understanding on security cooperation. It is an unfortunate, though predictable, stance — one that exposes their detachment from Puntland’s ground realities and their quiet servitude to DamulJadiid’s shadow networks in Villa Somalia.

Let’s get this straight: Puntland’s leadership has the constitutional right and political maturity to engage with any neighboring administration — including Somaliland — on issues that directly affect the peace, stability, and economic lifeline of its people. Security coordination and mutual understanding between the two sides are not acts of betrayal; they are the very essence of responsible governance in a volatile region.

Those opposing this initiative from Mogadishu, however, are not thinking of Puntland’s interests. They are echoing the whispers of DamulJadiid operatives who have long sought to destabilize Puntland from afar, to weaken its institutions, and to create internal friction that could be exploited politically in Villa Somalia’s favor. These are the same cynical actors who inspired and funded the Aaran Jaan network that violently disrupted Garowe’s peace a few years ago.

Their motives are transparent. They thrive on chaos. They oppose anything that strengthens Puntland’s autonomy and legitimacy. In their narrow political calculus, peace and cooperation are threats to their political survival — because their only currency is confusion.

The Mogadishu-based “Puntland opposition” should be honest with the people: they are not fighting for democracy in Puntland; they are fighting for relevance in the capital. Their statements are not drafted in Garowe or Qardho; they are dictated by handlers in Villa Somalia who see Puntland’s stability as a political liability.

The people of Puntland are not fooled. They understand that coexistence with Somaliland, however complex, is a pragmatic necessity. Border communities, shared clans, trade routes, and the collective fight against terrorism demand coordination — not hostility. The Mogadishu opposition’s short-sightedness only confirms that they are far removed from the land they claim to represent.

Let it be said clearly: Puntland’s peace and progress will not be dictated from Mogadishu’s hotel corridors. The State of Puntland was founded on the principle of self-determination, negotiation, and local consensus — not on imported chaos.

WDM Verdict:
The Puntland opposition operating from Mogadishu has lost both political compass and credibility. Their hostility toward Puntland–Somaliland cooperation mirrors the same destructive mindset that once unleashed Aaran Jaan’s violence in Garowe. Puntland will continue to talk, negotiate, and cooperate for the sake of peace — with or without their approval.