GAROWE — Puntland’s government has sent a formal letter to the United Nations Security Council warning that Somalia’s federal political crisis risks creating a parallel government in Mogadishu and requesting the reimposition of an arms embargo on the country, according to a document dated September 13 and addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The letter, signed by the Office of the President of Puntland, accuses the Federal Government of Somalia of systematically destabilizing Puntland by arming militias, recruiting parallel security forces, and financing political actors to fragment the region. It also raises concerns about the use of military assets, including drones, in political disputes between Somali actors.
The briefing comes ahead of the Security Council’s scheduled session on Somalia in October 2026.
Claim of Public Pressure for Secession
In the letter’s closing section, Puntland states that it is “currently facing pressures from huge masses of its citizens who are in favor of full independence from the Center, taking into account the protracted fatigue and failure of the state-building project, as well as lacking any reciprocal partnership from the federal authority in Mogadishu.”
This claim of overwhelming public demand for secession is not supported by verifiable evidence in the letter. It is presented as an assertion of Puntland’s internal political reality without polling data, referendum results, or any independent verification. Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni made a similar claim in a social media post on September 22, stating that “huge masses” of citizens are calling for full independence, citing frustration with the federal government.
Independent analysis of Puntland’s political trajectory suggests a more complex picture. A May 2026 report by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies described Puntland’s posture as a rebellion aimed at increasing political pressure on the federal government rather than a secessionist project seeking international recognition, noting that Puntland remains theoretically part of Somali institutions despite suspending cooperation in several files. Similarly, an analysis in Asharq Al-Awsat characterised Puntland’s actions as an attempt to “raise political pressure” rather than a formal separation project.
Former Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke said in July 2026 that he does not believe Puntland will declare itself independent, arguing that the current political tensions require dialogue and consensus. He added that he does not believe the people of Puntland would support a move to declare independence, describing the Puntland community as deeply aware of Somalia’s political circumstances.
An opinion piece published by Idil News in January 2026 claimed to reflect “a majority view” in Puntland that “our patience is finished” and that “Puntland must chart its own path,” but this was a subjective statement published by a partisan outlet, not a representative survey. A poll conducted on the Somali Spot forum, which is not a scientific survey and included voters from outside Puntland, found that 32.5 percent of respondents supported “full statehood for Puntland republic,” 19.5 percent supported union with conditions, and 55.8 percent rejected any division.
Request for Inclusive Dialogue and Transitional Roadmap
Puntland’s first request is for the Security Council to convene an immediate and inclusive Somali dialogue to agree on a transitional roadmap leading to elections for federal and Federal Member State institutions whose mandates have expired.
The letter notes that the Federal Parliament’s and President’s mandates expired in April and May 2026 respectively, creating what it describes as an “inevitable risk” that a parallel government could emerge. It warns that Puntland “might eventually consider to permanently sever ties with Mogadishu” under the current status.
The Somali Future Council (SFC), an opposition coalition that includes the presidents of Puntland and Jubaland, made a similar appeal to the UN on September 11, requesting an international mediator and guarantor for political talks and asking for equal footing with the federal government in negotiations.
Reinstatement of Dual-Track Engagement
Puntland’s second request is for the United Nations and Member States to provide direct support for Puntland’s security, humanitarian, and economic programs, bypassing Mogadishu. The letter cites the ongoing offensive against ISIS-Somalia in the Cal Miskaad mountains, operations against Al-Shabaab, and anti-piracy efforts as areas where Puntland has taken the lead without federal support.
Puntland has been fighting ISIS militants in the eastern Cal Miskaad mountains for over two years. The letter states that Puntland has not received any federal support in personnel, funding, or equipment for this fight, and describes it as “the only front where Somali forces have effectively taken and held ground against a globally designated terrorist organisation.”
The letter also raises the resurgence of piracy, noting that 19 incidents have been recorded in 2026 and five vessels are currently held. It requests renewed international naval cooperation against piracy in coordination with Puntland’s maritime and land security forces.
Concerns Over Turkish Airstrikes
The letter specifically raises Turkish military operations off Puntland’s coast. On August 18 and 20, Turkish navy forces conducted airstrikes killing fourteen Somali nationals at the shores of Jilife and Garmal in the Nugal region, according to the letter. Puntland claims it had advised Türkiye through its diplomatic mission in Mogadishu not to harm fishermen but to collaborate on tackling pirates.
Puntland’s account states that Turkish forces “intentionally ignored these calls, and unilaterally did strikes and killed Somalia at the shores, not on the sea.” Türkiye has denied carrying out airstrikes off Puntland’s coast, with a Turkish Foreign Ministry official telling BBC Somali that Ankara had no information about such operations.
The strikes followed the seizure of the MV LUTUF vessel, which was allegedly carrying Turkish military supplies to Mogadishu. The vessel was later released following a ransom payment, according to Puntland’s letter.
The letter also references a drone strike on September 3, 2026, that destroyed the residence of a senior officer dismissed by the Federal Government in March 2026, describing the use of aerial strike capability in a dispute between Somali political actors as “an escalation of a different order from anything preceding it.”
Call for Reimposition of Arms Embargo
Puntland’s fourth request is for the Security Council to review and reconsider reimposing an arms embargo on Somalia. The letter argues that Somalia has no fully responsible and agreed-upon security and arms control framework, and no record of proof of end-user verification exists.
It warns of the risk of Al-Shabaab and ISIS receiving advanced weaponry and military capabilities, including drones, missiles, and anti-aircraft rockets. The letter also cites the misuse of drone assets by political opponents as an urgent reason for the Security Council to act.
The UN Security Council currently maintains an arms embargo specifically targeting Al-Shabaab, while exempting specified Somali government security institutions. The general and complete arms embargo on Somalia was lifted in December 2023.
Extension of UNTMIS and Concerns Over Disinformation
Puntland requests the extension of the UNTMIS mandate given the deteriorating political and security conditions in Somalia, including the risk of reversing counterterrorism and state-building gains.
The letter also accuses Somalia’s representative on the Security Council of using the seat to “disinform the Council about the facts on the ground” and silence assessments from other members. It alleges that the federal government has granted controversial resource concessions and contracts to foreign allies without due legal procedure or consultation with Federal Member States.
Critical Note
Puntland’s letter to the Security Council is the most comprehensive public articulation yet of the region’s grievances against the federal government, and it escalates a political dispute into a formal appeal for international intervention against Mogadishu. The request for a reinstated arms embargo is particularly significant, effectively asking the international community to treat the Somali federal government as a security risk rather than a partner.
The letter’s claim that “huge masses” of Puntland citizens demand full independence is asserted without evidence. While there is no doubt that Puntland’s relationship with Mogadishu has deteriorated sharply, the claim of overwhelming public support for secession appears to be a political framing rather than a documented fact. The available independent analysis suggests Puntland’s posture is more accurately understood as a pressure campaign for greater autonomy and a renegotiated federal relationship than a genuine secessionist movement seeking international recognition. Former Prime Minister Sharmarke, a Puntland native, has explicitly rejected the idea that Puntlanders would support independence.
The letter’s claims about federal destabilization efforts are consistent with a pattern documented over the past year. Puntland forces seized a military camp in Galkayo in August 2026, capturing weapons and equipment that Puntland alleged was part of a Chinese donation intended for the Somali Police Force. These events lend some credibility to Puntland’s account, though the federal government has not publicly responded to the specific allegations in the letter.
The timing is significant. The letter arrives as Somalia’s federal institutions operate without a clear constitutional mandate, with parliamentary and presidential terms expired. The opposition Somali Future Council has made parallel appeals to the UN, seeking an international mediator and guarantor for political talks. The convergence of Puntland’s letter and the SFC’s appeal suggests a coordinated effort by opposition and regional actors to internationalize Somalia’s political crisis ahead of the October Security Council session.
For the Security Council, the letter presents a difficult choice. Reimposing an arms embargo would signal a loss of confidence in the federal government and could complicate ongoing counterterrorism operations. Ignoring Puntland’s request risks further alienating a region that has been a reliable partner against ISIS and piracy. The Council’s response in October will be a test of whether it can address Somalia’s political crisis without abandoning the security gains that have been made.
