Political parties in Puntland have been unable to hold their Central Committee conventions after the state administration suspended the financial support they previously received from the government.
Last year, the Puntland administration terminated the monthly stipends of $10,000 that were allocated to the parties to fund their operations—support that had been crucial for their survival.
The Puntland Electoral Commission (PEC) had notified the parties three months ago to hold their major conventions to elect their senior leadership, including chairpersons and other party committees.
In conversations with HOL, party officials stated that they informed the electoral commission that without the reinstatement of their financial allocations, they would be unable to hold their central conventions.
The parties have previously accused President Deni of not being genuinely committed to Puntland’s democracy, alleging that since his re-election in 2024, he has begun to roll back democratic advances.
While the financial shortfall is the most significant challenge facing Puntland’s parties, internal conflicts have also emerged, splitting them into rival factions.
Some of the parties have now registered jointly at the federal level in an effort to secure financial support from the Federal Government of Somalia.
