Wednesday March 19, 2025
Garowe (HOL) — Puntland has rejected the Federal Government of Somalia’s National Identification Card registration initiative, calling it politically motivated and a threat to the region’s autonomy. The administration warned residents against participating in the program, which it described as legally questionable and a financial burden on citizens.
In a statement Tuesday, Puntland’s Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Democratization reiterated that the regional administration does not recognize any law imposed without prior agreement. The ministry accused the Federal Government of using the National ID project to manipulate future elections without broad political consensus.
“The registration is politically driven and aimed at facilitating illegitimate elections without proper agreement with stakeholders, distracting citizens from the actual security and national unity challenges facing Somalia,” the statement read.
The Puntland government also raised concerns over the security and reliability of the data collected under the program, arguing that it was “neither secure nor safeguarded from falling into unreliable hands.”
The Somali government has denied reports claiming that the ID cards are being printed solely to facilitate one-person, one-vote elections. It has promoted the National ID initiative as a vital step toward strengthening governance, improving service delivery, and enhancing security across the country. However, Puntland claims the program is an unnecessary burden on Somali citizens already grappling with economic hardships and insecurity.
“It is a wealth accumulation scheme that imposes a financial burden on Somali citizens already dealing with security and economic hardships,” the ministry stated.
Puntland officials announced plans to introduce their own Puntland State ID, which will serve local governance and administrative needs. “Puntland will continue to implement policies that advance the interests of its people, including a localized identification system that serves its governance needs,” the ministry added.
The rejection of the National ID program is the latest point of contention between Puntland and the Federal Government, highlighting broader disputes over governance and administrative autonomy. In March 2024, Puntland declared it would govern itself independently until constitutional amendments proposed by the central government were ratified through a nationwide referendum.
The Federal Government has yet to respond to Puntland’s position on the National ID initiative.