Deni Travels to Ethiopia and UAE Without Public Disclosure Amid Deepening Federal-State Rift

GAROWE – Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has departed Garowe for an unannounced foreign trip, with sources confirming he will first travel to Addis Ababa before proceeding to Dubai, in a move that underscores the region’s deepening political and economic crisis and raises fundamental questions about transparency and democratic accountability.

The president left from General Mohamed Abshir Airport on Friday evening without any official statement from his office regarding the purpose, duration or agenda of his visit. This pattern of secretive travel, while not unprecedented for Deni, is particularly concerning given the severity of the crises currently gripping Puntland.

A Region in Crisis

Deni’s departure comes at a moment of acute instability for Puntland. The region is facing a 32.4% budget shortfall for 2026, with armed soldiers from the Afmeer Brigade having shut down the vital Bosaso–Garowe highway in protest over four months of unpaid salaries. Bosaso port, the region’s economic lifeline, has been closed for weeks amid a dispute between DP World and local traders over increased fees and new taxes, paralyzing trade and raising fears of supply shortages.

The financial strain has fueled repeated protests, with civil servants also reporting months of unpaid wages. The economic turmoil cannot be separated from the wider political confrontation between Mogadishu and Garowe. Puntland has accused the Federal Government of utilizing substantial resources to destabilize the region, with Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor declaring that the state’s security focus is shifting toward “defense” against political interference.

A Pattern of Secrecy and Unaccountability

The lack of transparency surrounding Deni’s travel is not an isolated incident. He has previously undertaken unannounced visits to Ethiopia and the UAE, often without disclosing the purpose or duration of his trips. In April 2024, Deni left for an official visit to the UAE with a brief stopover in Addis Ababa, but the public was given little information about his agenda.

This pattern of secrecy raises serious questions about democratic accountability in Puntland. Citizens have a right to know where their leaders are going and what they are doing on their behalf, particularly when the region is facing a severe financial and security crisis. The president’s absence from Garowe during a time of crisis, without any public explanation, suggests a disregard for the very principles of transparency and accountability that democratic governance requires.

Federal-State Tensions and the UAE Factor

Deni’s visit to the UAE is particularly significant given the ongoing dispute between Puntland and the Federal Government over relations with Abu Dhabi. Puntland has formally rejected the Federal Government’s decision to cancel bilateral agreements with the UAE, declaring the move “null and void” within its jurisdiction. The UAE provides approximately $50 million annually to support the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), and Puntland has vowed to maintain the Bosaso Port Development Project with UAE-owned DP World.

The Federal Government’s termination of defense and commercial treaties with Abu Dhabi has deepened the rift between Mogadishu and Garowe. Puntland has barred federal-linked troops from its territory and rejected federal payments to 1,376 soldiers stationed within the state, alleging that the purpose of these payments is to bypass Puntland’s command structure.

A Crisis of Legitimacy

Deni’s secretive travel and the broader pattern of unaccountable governance in Puntland reflect a deeper crisis of legitimacy. Deni has accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of breaking the country apart and warned that the federal government would cease to be recognized if a broad political agreement was not reached. Yet his own administration is characterized by the same lack of transparency and accountability that he criticizes in Mogadishu.

Deni has delivered sharp critiques of the federal government’s alleged centralization efforts, accusing Mogadishu of attempting to seize direct control over Puntland’s natural resources and dismantle the federal system. But his own record on transparency is no better. He has questioned the legitimacy of elections whose outcomes are predetermined, yet his own administration operates with minimal public oversight or accountability.

Way Forward

Deni’s unannounced trip to Ethiopia and the UAE reflects a governance culture in Puntland that prioritizes executive discretion over public accountability. The president’s absence from Garowe during a time of acute crisis, without any public explanation, is a failure of democratic governance that citizens deserve better than. Until Puntland’s leadership embraces transparency and accountability, the region’s political and economic crises will only deepen.