Puntland

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Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe (Nugaal region), whose leaders in 1998 declared it to be an autonomous state. The current government apparently sees the move as an attempt to reconstitute Somalia as a federative republic. Unlike neighbouring Somaliland, it does not seek outright independence from Somalia. The name is derived from the Land of Punt mentioned by ancient Egyptian sources, which is believed by some to have existed in what is now Somalia.

Contents 1 History 2 Economy 3 Geography 4 Media 5 Notes 6 External links 6.1 News 6.2 Politics

[edit] History

Main article: History of Puntland

Puntland considers itself as an autonomous state within Somalia. In 1969, when Somalia's government was toppled in a coup d'état, years of war and chaos followed. An unsuccessful invasion of Ethiopia followed the Soviet Union's change of support from Somalia to Ethiopia, caused by the rise of a pro-Soviet government in Ethiopia. Left without Soviet support, Somalia turned to the United States, which allowed Somalia's self-proclaimed president, Siad Barre, to stay in power through the end of the Cold War in 1991. When the Soviet Union collapsed, American support for the Somali government was withdrawn, and Barre was overthrown.

Following these events, Somalis remained without a strong government, with constant wars ravaging the southern part of Somalia. These events led to the 1991 secession of Somaliland, which in 1960 had enjoyed a few days of independence. Violence continued throughout the country, prompting a United Nations peacekeeping force to be sent to war-torn Somalia. The relief effort ended however on March 3, 1995, almost two years after the Battle of Mogadishu when two American helicopters were shot down and 18 soldiers were killed.

Somalia remained unstable and, in 1998, Puntland declared its autonomy. Although it is a tribal-based separation under the presidency of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (deputy president of the Somali Salvation Democratic Front), it is a nation with clan confederation as one of its top priorities. Since 1998, Puntland has been in territorial disputes with Somaliland over the Sool and Sanaag regions. Yusuf was an army major when he sought political asylum in Ethiopia. He led the first group of resistance fighters belonging to Majeerteen tribe, whose ultimate goal was to free Somalia from dictatorship.

Unlike the self-declared state of Somaliland, Puntland is not trying to obtain international recognition as a nation. It seeks to become a federal division within a united Somalia that is a federal republic. But the two so-called "lands" have one thing in common: they both base their support upon tribal elders and their way of organization along lines based on tribe and kinship. The Somali capital Mogadishu, and other southern cities, are said to have developed much less than cities in Puntland and Somaliland (e.g. Bosaso, Hargeisa, Las Anod, Garowe, etc.) These two self-declared independent regions obtain their economic and political support from Ethiopia, historically an adversary of Somalia.

Puntland began experiencing political unrest in 2001 when President Ahmed wanted his term to be lengthened. Ahmed and Jama Ali Jama fought for control of the country, which Ahmed won in 2002. Ahmed served as president until October 2004 when he was elected President of Somalia. He was succeeded by Muhammad Abdi Hashi who served until January 2005 when he was defeated for re-election by Parliament, which elected General Mohamud Muse Hersi ("Adde"). In December 2004, Puntland sustained serious damage during the tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake. The international community has been accused of ignoring Puntland and other African areas where the tsunami struck.

In November 2006, the Union of Islamic Courts reportedly captured Bandiiradley, a strategically located settlement near Puntland's border with Mudug. However, a spokesman for local warlord Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdiid claimed that his troops had only made a tactical retreat from the area. Mohamed Mohamud Jama, a Mudug-based spokesman for the Islamic Courts, announced the courts' intention to march on Gaalkacyo, part of which is claimed by Puntland. Heretofore, the courts had avoided making incursions into Puntland.^[3] That same month, General Adde announced that he would rule according to Islamic law but in a different way from that of the Islamic Courts in order to avoid "politicizing religion." Adde then announced that Puntland would resist any attack made by the Islamic Courts. ^[4]

[edit] Economy

Puntland has 1600km of coastline, which is abundant with fish and other natural marine resources. However, after the collapse of the Somali central government in 1991, the coast was left unguarded against foreign intruders. As a result, many ships equipped with heavy trawlers and other unlawful fishing equipment have worked in Puntland's territorial waters. These ships violate catch regulations, including some which keep their catch alive and stock them in waters where fishing has been depleted. Puntland's coastal authorities continue to receive complaints from local fishermen about the damage being done by these outsiders.

Puntland exports great quantities of fish types such as lobsters, dried fish, shark vines, and tuna.

In Lasqorey district there is a medium size fish processing plant that produces and processes great quantities of tuna fish. The products of Lasqorey fish factory reach commercial level, and its tuna are found throughout Puntland and also outside the region. A fish processing plant is also being constructed in Habo, which locals hope will reduce poverty and unemployment and improve the economy of the area.

[edit] Geography

Puntland occupies the following Regions of Somalia:

• Nugaal
  • Garoowe (State Capital)
  • Eyl
  • Burtinle
  • Dangorayo

• Bari
  • Bosaso (Regional/Commercial Capital/ largest city)
  • Bali Dhidhin
  • Calula
  • Galgala
  • Hafun
  • Isku-Shuban
  • Qandala
  • Qodax

• 'Karkaar'
  • Qardho
  • Bandar Beyla
  • Dud hooye

Puntland has divided Bari into two regions, Bari in the north and Karkaar in the south.^[5]

• Mudug
  • (North) Gaalkacyo is the administrative centre.
  • Galdogob
  • Jiriiban

• Sanaag
  • Hadaaftimo
  • Hingalol
  • Dhahar
  • Buraan
  • Ceelaayo
  • Badhan
  • Las Khorey

• Sool
  • Laascaanood (Regional Capital)
  • Taleex
  • Yagoori
  • Xudun

• Cayn
  • Buuhoodle (Regional Capital)

"Ayn" is the name given by the Puntland government to the area they claim in southeastern Togdheer region.^[5]

Both regions of Sool and Sanaag are in dispute, as these territories were claimed as part of the de facto self-declared state of Somaliland which formed in 1991, as being historically part of British Somaliland. Beginning in 2003, the forces of Puntland entered and occupied the eastern parts of Sool region based on irredentist desires, due to the large Darod clan population in the area. Fighting between the two forces led to casualties and captured prisoners, who were later exchanged. As a related contention, in 2005 Puntland tried to sell off mineral rights to foreign investors, including the disputed territories of Sool and Sanaag.^[6][7]

[edit] Media

Among other outlets, the State of Puntland reaches out to the world via its clandestine radio station, Radio Gaalkacyo (formerly Radio Free Somalia).

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Official Website: Government of Puntland
• Map of Puntland: Landmine Impact Survey, 2005 (4.3MB PDF file)
• Puntland: UN-OCHA Overview (PDF file)

[edit] News

• BBC: Islamists 'take key Somali town' (in Puntland) November 12, 2006
• HRNet Information about Puntland and Somalia
• GaroweOnline.com: Breaking news, ed/ops through Web & Radio broadcast!
• Allpuntland.com: News, information, entertainment and more
• BBC: "Somali warlords battle for Puntland" May 7, 2002
• Puntlandpost.com: News
• Wardheernews.com: News and commentary
• Wayaha.com: News
• Laasqoray.net: News
• Dhahar.com: News
• Somalia Online: News and discussions
• Somalia INFO: Full of INFO
• Hafun.Org: News Agency

[edit] Politics

• "Position Paper of Harti, Geri, Abdi Koobe, and Isse DAROOD of Puntland State of Somalia, and Jubaland" at Allpuntland.com
• African Elections Database: "Elections in Puntland"

Regions of Somalia
Awdal | Bakool | Banaadir | Bari | Bay | Galguduud | Gedo | Hiiraan | Jubbada Dhexe | Jubbada Hoose | Mudug | Nugaal | Sanaag | Shabeellaha Dhexe | Shabeellaha Hoose | Sool | Togdheer | Woqooyi Galbeed

States of Somalia
Galmudug | Puntland | Somaliland | Southwestern Somalia