Puntland, an arid area of north-east Somalia, declared itself an autonomous state in August 1998, partially to keep away from the clan warfare engulfing southern Somalia.
Regardless of its relative stability, the area has endured armed battle, and grabbed the world headlines with an upsurge in pirate assaults on worldwide transport within the Indian Ocean.
Puntland is a vacation spot for a lot of Somalis displaced by violence within the south.
In contrast to its neighbour, breakaway Somaliland, Puntland has mentioned it doesn’t search recognition as an impartial entity, wishing as a substitute to be a part of a federal Somalia.
Nonetheless, in 2024, Puntland introduced it could function as a functionally impartial state amid a dispute over Somali constitutional adjustments.
The territory takes its identify from the Land of Punt, a centre of commerce for the traditional Egyptians and a spot shrouded in legend.
Capital: Garowe (administrative), Bosaso (business)
Space: 212,510 sq km
Inhabitants: 4.9 million
Languages: Somali, Arabic, English
Life expectancy: 53 years (males) 56 years (girls)
President: Stated Abdullahi Dani
Stated Abdullahi Dani, gained a second four-year time period in January 2024, making him the primary regional chief to win re-election because the state declared autonomy in 1998. The previous federal planning minister, was first elected president in January 2019.
In his victory speech, he urged Somalis “to overlook the previous and open a brand new web page for peace, improvement and unity”.
Former Somali overseas affairs minister Abshir Omar Jama, who was backed by the federal authorities, completed third.
Deni faces enormous challenges in his second time period, together with insecurity, political wrangling with the federal authorities and tensions with the newly-declared Khatumo state in addition to the breakaway area of Somaliland.
Though Puntland’s constitution gives for freedom of the press, the authorities have resorted to detaining journalists and shutting media shops.
Non-public broadcasters are permitted to function. No newspapers are presently revealed in Puntland.
Seventeenth-Nineteenth Century – The realm of present Puntland is dominated by the Sultanate of Majeerteen – a significant buying and selling energy.
1888-9 – Majeerteen and the rival sultanate of Hobyo turn out to be Italian protectorates.
Nineteen Twenties – Each sultanates are annexed to Italian Somaliland.
1960 – Puntland turns into a part of a united Somalia with the independence and merger of the Italian and British Somaliland territories.
1998 – Puntland area declares autonomy after the remainder of Somalia collapses into anarchy, however doesn’t search independence.
2005-2012 – Pirates – primarily working out of Puntland – pose a significant menace to transport off the Somali coast, earlier than falling away as a menace on account of a global naval operation.
2024 – Puntland publicizes it could function as a functionally impartial state amid a dispute over Somali constitutional adjustments, till the adjustments are accepted in a nationwide referendum..
