Explainer: Puntland at 28 - How it shaped Somalia’s federal system and why it remains at odds with Mogadishu

Why is Puntland marking its anniversary? Puntland was established on Aug. 1, 1998, after political leaders, traditional elders, and community representatives met in Garowe to create an administration for northeastern Somalia. The founding conference brought together communities from northern Mudug, Nugal, Bari, and parts of Sool and Sanaag. Its transitional charter envisioned Puntland as a federal entity within a future Somali state, not as an independent country. That position distinguished Puntland from Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Why was Puntland created? Somalia’s central government collapsed in 1991, leaving large parts of the country without functioning national institutions. Leaders in the northeast sought to restore security, administration, and basic government while remaining part of Somalia. Their preferred solution was federalism: a national government in Mogadishu sharing authority with strong regional administrations.