We shall initiate comprehensive reforms within governmental institutions, ensuring they are robust, efficient, and accountable. Meritocracy will be observed through implementation of merit-based public office appointments and regular performance evaluations for public servants, and promotion of efficiency and integrity within the system.

We will empower Parliament – as the foundational branch of government - to discharge its legislation and oversight duties and to hold the Executive accountable.

This will be done by enacting and enforcing legislation that guarantees parliament’s autonomy, safeguarding it from undue influence or interference from external entities. Further, we shall work with Parliament to ensure a system of checks and balances in and outside the House, ensuring transparency and public’s access to information. We will work with parliamentary committees, empowering them to conduct thorough investigations into matters of public concern, holding the Executive and other arms of the government accountable. This will also entail establishing a robust system for regular reporting by the Executive to Parliament, ensuring transparency in government actions and expenditures.

We will transform the State by creating a government for the people by the people that champions citizen engagement through public participation in decision-making processes in pursuance of democratic ideals. The government will actively partake in civic education programs to increase public awareness of good governance, democracy and state building priorities. We will strive to establish a vibrant and participatory democratic system, fostering active citizen engagement, multi-party politics, and informed decision-making processes. In addition, we will establish a robust and impartial Puntland Electoral Commission (PEC) capable of conducting transparent, free, and fair elections across Puntland, adhering to a multi-party system and upholding the Constitution of Puntland. Finally, we will promote a culture of political tolerance and peaceful competition in Puntland, where political opponents are seen as fellow citizens engaging in healthy debate and dialogue, focusing on policy agendas rather than resorting to intimidation or violence.

To achieve these goals, my government will do the following:

1. i) Legislative Review and Reforms for Democratization Process: This will be achieved by conducting a comprehensive review of existing laws and regulatory mechanisms to ensure they facilitate the growth of multi-party politics, protect political freedoms, encourage diverse political ideologies, and allow for free and fair elections.
2. ii) Promoting Community Dialogue, Engagement and Political Inclusivity: We will help organize community dialogue to openly discuss political issues, fostering understanding and tolerance among people of different political affiliations.

We will encourage the active participation of women, youth, and marginalized communities in political activities, ensuring their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed.

iii) Public Awareness and Civic Education: We will entrench use of various media channels, community outreach initiatives, and educational institutions to disseminate information, empowering citizens to actively participate in the democratic process

Our government will strengthen anti-corruption measures to promote integrity and accountability at all levels of governance.  We shall outline and implement various measures and instruments that we believe will stamp out corruption and fraud in the public sector.

To this end, my government will enact and rigorously enforce comprehensive anti-corruption laws; implement transparent financial and procurement systems; foster a culture of integrity within government agencies; and promoting ethical decision-making and responsible use of public resources. We will have in place stringent internal controls and audits within government departments and agencies to prevent embezzlement, fraud, and misappropriation of funds.

We will build capacity of Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Commission tasked with investigating and prosecuting corruption cases.

Our government will give priority to the security of individuals and community through protection of lives and property. We will prioritize the establishment of a comprehensive and inclusive security strategy to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens; strengthen collaboration with regional and international partners to combat terrorism and promote peace-building initiatives and foster dialogue and reconciliation to address clan conflicts and promote social cohesion between communities. Vigilance will be enforced to enable citizens to enjoy their freedoms across the Puntland. We will increase the budget to support the planned security services through capacity building and purchase of security equipment. The security priorities are highlighted below:

• Reforming, training and providing logistical capabilities for Puntland State security forces
• Ensuring security cooperation with Federal Member States (FMS), Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia
• Increasing capacities, operational readiness, coordination and command-and- control structures
• Reviewing and developing security sector laws, policies, regulations and rules of operation to modern legal and operational standards
• Ensuring accountability for security sector and rights for all service officers, including salaries, medical expenses, training, logistics costs
• Developing strategies for coordinated security and justice reforms and action

Our government will recognize and acknowledge the various roles Traditional and religious leaders (Ulema) play at national and grassroot levels. We will also recognise and enhance the vital role women and youth in Puntland play, ensuring their active engagement, participation and empowerment across all sectors.

1. i) Recognizing the Role of Traditional Leaders

2. We will commit to enhance the critical role of the Traditional Leaders and propose it to be institutionalized and accommodated within a reformed Constitution of Puntland through a set of actions.

   Foremost, we will publicly recognize and acknowledge their historical contributions to the establishment, stability, and unity of Puntland. We will celebrate their wisdom, experience, and role as custodians of tradition and community values.

   Clear guidelines within the State Constitution outlining the scope of their roles, functions, and collaboration with governmental bodies will be laid out. There will be collaborative decision-making processes where Traditional Leaders are consulted on matters concerning community welfare, mediation and conflict resolution.

   1. ii) Appreciating the Role of Religious Leaders

   We appreciate the important role that our Ulema play in the dissemination of the noble teachings of Islam and in promoting the values and the good morals of our society. We will commit to actively

   We intend to actively engage them in community development projects, and support religious education programs that promote tolerance, understanding, and peaceful coexistence among different religious and cultural groups.

    iii) Opportunities for the Youth

   We pledge commitment to empower youths by creating opportunities in education, in skills improvement for employment, sports music, arts, and cultural events for creative expression and in leadership training. Our slogan is: Healthy youth for a healthy society.

   We will endeavour to improve access to quality education- in schools, vocational training centres and higher learning institutions through adequate equipping and staffing and conducive learning environment. We will collaborate with industries and businesses to create apprenticeship programs for real-world experience and enhancing their employability. A Youth Entrepreneurship Fund will be started towards this initiative.

Women in Puntland play a critical role and provide vital social security to our children and our community. Accordingly, we will develop policies that promote and institutionalize the role of women and girls in all sectors including education, economy and political participation. We will also commit to the realization of affirmative action to promote women representation in the public sector.

It is by the Grace of Allah and the commitment and sacrifice of their people that Sool, Sanaag and Cayn (Khaatumo) are today free from domination and subjugation. We respect the autonomy of SSC-Khaatumo, as recognized by the FGS in 2023, for the region’s right to self-determination and self-governance.

Consequently, we will ensure that policies and decisions made at the regional level respect the unique cultural, historical, and social aspects of the SSC-Khaatumo region. We will collaborate with the SSC-Khaatumo Interim Administration on development initiatives, supporting infrastructure projects, education, healthcare, trade and economic development, and cultural exchanges in the region.

We recognize that women in Puntland play a critical role and provide vital social security to our children and our community. Accordingly, we will develop policies that promote and institutionalize the role of women and girls in all sectors including education, economy and political participation. We will also commit to the realization of at least 30% of women in appointments for positions in the public sector.

Our government will advocate for the preservation and enhancement of the federal system in Somalia that ensures power-sharing, decentralization and regional autonomy. We will strive to strengthen relations with the Federal Government of Somalia as we seek fair representation at the federal level. We shall also cultivate cordial relations and collaboration with other State leaders in greater Somalia to strengthen local self-governance, regional autonomy and national unity in an effort to build a stronger and more stable nation. We will work towards a balanced and equitable distribution of available resources, ensuring that all States and regions benefit from the federal system. Our government will work on this through the following priority areas:

1. i) Puntland-Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) Relations

We will develop a comprehensive engagement strategy based on the Provisional Federal Constitution of Somalia and Puntland State Constitution, ensuring clear guidelines for cooperation, dialogue, and conflict resolution. Such critical issues as power and resource sharing, resolving outstanding federal-state matters, and promoting mutual understanding will be addressed too.

1. ii) Puntland-Federal Member State (FMS) relations

We will support and participate in technical-level engagements with other Federal Member States (FMS) on humanitarian and development sectors for the benefit of all Somali citizens. We will also advocate for fair and equitable distribution of resources among all FMS to ensure that the federal system benefits every citizen.

It is by the Grace of Allah and the commitment and sacrifice of their people that Sool, Sanaag and Cayn (Khaatumo) are today free from domination and subjugation. While we congratulate the people of Khaatumo on their victory and the formation of their administration, it is our duty as Puntlanders to aid them and support them in their aspirations as they represent the nexus for the unity of Somalia.

Our government will advocate for the preservation and enhancement of the federal system that ensures power-sharing, decentralization and regional autonomy. We will strive to strengthen relations with the Federal Government of Somalia as we seek fair representation at the federal level. We shall also cultivate cordial relations and collaboration with other State leaders in greater Somalia to strengthen local self-governmence, regional autonomy and national unity in an effort to build a stronger and more stable nation.

We will work towards a balanced and equitable distribution of available resources, ensuring that all States and regions benefit from the federal system. Our government will work on this through the following priority areas:

• Developing Puntland-FGS Engagement Strategy – within the framework of Provisional Federal Constitution of Somalia and Puntland State Constitution
• Actively participating in federal constitutional review processes through participatory and transparent Puntland State institutions
• Supporting continuation of technical-level engagement with FGS, FMS’s on humanitarian and development sectors (non-political) and continuing political engagement with FGS on key issues, such as power & resource sharing, and other federal-state outstanding issues.

It is unfortunate that, at the dawn of this new millennium, political competition in our country comes with violence and bloodshed. We are committed to conduct politics with sanity in which we view our competitors as fellow citizens. Our platform for competition is our agenda, and not intimidation and violence against our countrymen and women.

Our government will facilitate peaceful negotiations and dialogue between different clans and communities and promote understanding and reconciliation. This will be done through establishment of dispute resolution mechanisms at grass root levels to resolve conflicts in a fair and impartial manner.