Mogadishu – Somdaily.com — Somalia’s Prime Minister, H.E. Hamza Abdi Barre, has issued a strong warning against federal member states establishing parallel state institutions, following recent developments in Puntland indicating the creation of its own identity documents (ID cards) and a separate currency system.
In remarks delivered during a public address, Prime Minister Barre said:
“We are now seeing a Federal Member State form its own ID system, its own central bank, and even its own currency. The officials behind these steps must take a clear position and stand firmly behind it.”
The Prime Minister’s comments come amid an intensifying political standoff between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Puntland State administration. The dispute, which has been escalating for months, recently reached a new threshold as Puntland authorities initiated steps toward issuing a Puntland-specific identification card and discussions emerged around creating a localized currency.
These actions have sparked widespread public and political debate, with analysts warning of potential implications for national unity, economic stability, and Somalia’s fragile federal system.
Observers note that the deepening rift stems largely from disagreements over the constitutional review process and electoral model, with Puntland repeatedly accusing the Federal Government of unilateral amendments that contradict earlier national accords. Critics of Villa Somalia argue that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s push for constitutional changes risks reversing decades of progress and could reopen wounds from the state collapse of the early 1990s.
Political commentators also highlight that many Puntland politicians appear unprepared for the full consequences of the state’s recent unilateral measures, which could set far-reaching precedents for other federal member states and strain the coherence of Somalia’s governance framework.
However, supporters of Puntland’s position argue that the state’s actions are a response to what they describe as overreach by the Federal Government, claiming that Puntland is attempting to safeguard its autonomy and political relevance in the face of federal centralization efforts.
As tensions continue to rise, Somali stakeholders both within and outside government are calling for dialogue, de-escalation, and recommitment to the federal power-sharing framework, warning that failure to resolve the standoff could further destabilize the country.
Somdaily.com will continue to provide updates as the situation develops.