The rise of ISIS in Puntland was not inevitable, it was preventable. These terrorists did not appear overnight; they slowly built their presence, exploiting Puntland’s lack of immigration control, fragmented security forces, weak financial oversight, and international isolation. Puntland did not fail because it lacked the will to act but because it lacked the institutions to detect, monitor, and eliminate the threat early on.
Puntland reserved for the Federal Government of Somalia to establish these four key institutions: immigration, defense, financial oversight, and foreign relations. These were the only institutions Puntland agreed to reserve for the federal government under the federal structure, expecting a national framework that would serve all member states fairly. Instead, Puntland now faces terrorist threats, illicit financial flows, and diplomatic isolation—alone.
Meanwhile, the FGS has not only failed to fulfill its mandate but has actively worked to centralize power and undermine Puntland’s autonomy. Waiting for Mogadishu to act is no longer an option—Puntland must take matters into its own hands.
Why Puntland Must Build These Institutions Now
1. Immigration Control – Stopping Terrorist Infiltration
The absence of an immigration institution has turned Puntland into an open corridor for extremists. ISIS did not sneak into Puntland all at once; they infiltrated slowly, using Puntland’s uncontrolled entry points to establish their presence.
The FGS, tasked with establishing a unified federal immigration system, has completely failed in its duty. It neither secures Somalia’s borders nor supports Puntland in regulating movement. As a result, Puntland has been left defenseless against external threats.
Critics might argue that immigration control should remain under federal jurisdiction, but how can Puntland wait a government that doesn’t work? A government that does not protect its people loses the right to govern them. Puntland must take control of its borders, not as an act of defiance, but as a necessary step for survival.
2. Unified Defense – Defeating Terrorism with a Coordinated Security Force
Security is the backbone of any functioning state, yet Puntland’s forces remain fragmented due to the lack of a unified defense institution (Gaashaandhig). The FGS was supposed to create a national security framework that coordinates federal and regional forces. Instead, it has focused on political control rather than security, leaving Puntland to fight terrorism alone.
ISIS took advantage of this gap. They built bases in the Almiskad Mountains, confident that Puntland lacked the intelligence-sharing and coordination needed to uproot them quickly. Puntland forces are fighting bravely against ISIS, but imagine how much more effective they would have been under a unified security structure.
Those who oppose Puntland building its own defense institution ignore the reality on the ground. If Puntland does not protect itself, no one else will. Security is not a bargaining chip—it is a matter of life and death. Puntland must immediately establish its own defense institution to ensure its survival.
3. Financial Oversight – Cutting Off Terrorist Financing by establishing Fiscal Policy for Puntland
Terrorist organizations do not just rely on ideology, they rely on money. They need funds to recruit fighters, purchase weapons, and sustain their operations. The FGS was tasked with establishing fiscal Policy for federal financial oversight to monitor transactions and prevent illicit funding. It failed.
Without proper financial regulation, Puntland’s economy has become a breeding ground for illicit financial flows. ISIS and other criminal networks move money freely through informal banking systems, exploiting Puntland’s lack of oversight. A Puntland-led financial institution and its own fiscal policy would allow the region to track suspicious transactions, freeze terrorist funds, and protect its economy from infiltration.
Some might argue that fiscal policy and financial oversight should remain under federal control, but Puntland cannot afford to wait for a system that does not exist. If Puntland does not regulate its financial system, terrorist financing will continue unchecked.
4. Foreign Relations – Securing International Partnerships
Terrorism is a global threat that requires international cooperation. Puntland cannot effectively combat ISIS or strengthen its economy without engaging with the world. However, the FGS has blocked Puntland from establishing direct partnerships, even though it has failed to build a functioning federal foreign policy institution.
When Puntland faces terrorist threats, where is the diplomatic effort to secure global counterterrorism support? Where are the partnerships with regional allies to share intelligence and resources? They do not exist—because the FGS prioritizes political centralization over Puntland’s security.
If Puntland does not take control of its own foreign relations, it will continue to face international isolation while terrorists exploit the lack of coordinated global action. Those who claim Puntland should wait for FGS approval misunderstand federalism—a government that fails to protect its regions has no authority over them. Puntland must engage with international partners directly to secure its future.
No More Waiting—Puntland Must Act Now
Puntland can no longer afford to leave its survival in the hands of a negligent federal government. The failure of the FGS to establish these four critical institutions is not just incompetence—it is a betrayal. Puntland has already suffered the consequences, from terrorist attacks to economic vulnerabilities and diplomatic isolation.
Some will argue that Puntland building these institutions undermines the federal system. But Puntland has upheld federalism more than anyone else—it is the FGS that has abandoned its responsibilities.
This is no longer a debate between federalism and autonomy, this is about survival. Puntland must immediately establish these institutions and secure its future, because if we do not, no one else will.
By.Mustaf Gufe.