Puntland, officially the Puntland State of Somalia, is a Federal Member State in northeastern Somalia. The capital city is the city of Garoowe in the Nugal region, and its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998. Puntland had a population of 4,334,633 in 2016. Geographically to the west, Puntland lays claim to the intra-46th meridian territories that were outside European colonial rule during parts of the Scramble for Africa period.
The Majeerteen is a prominent Somali sub-clan of the Harti, which falls under the Darod clan. Traditionally, they inhabit extensive territories in the Bari, Nugaal, and Mudug regions of Somalia, spanning from Bosaso to Garacad, mainly in Puntland state. Additionally, Majeerteen populations are present in southern towns such as Kismayo.
Qardho, also known as Gardo, is a city in the northeastern Bari region of Somalia, a district within the autonomous state of Puntland.
Harti, meaning "strong man", is a Somali clan family that is the part of the Darod clan. The major sub-clans include the Majeerteen, Warsangeli, Dishiishe, Dhulbahante and while other minor sub-clans consist of Kaskiqabe, Geesaguule and Liibaangashe.
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is a Somali politician who was the 7th President of Somalia from 2009 to 2012.
Badhan, also known as Baran is a city in the Sanaag region of Puntland state of Somalia.
Osman Mahmoud is a Somali sub-clan and is one of the largest sub-clans within the major Majeerteen Harti confederation of Darod. The sub-clan is most renowned for its rich history within Somalia, That of which include sultanates such as the Majeerteen Sultanate and Hobyo Sultanate.
Buuhoodle, also known as Bohotle, is the largest city in the Togdheer region of Somalia. It serves as a significant border town for the movement of goods between Somalia and the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The surrounding district is rich in livestock with growing agricultural activities.
Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamoud Farole is a Somali politician. He served for many years in the government, acting as a governor of the Nugal region of Somalia in the 1990s and later as the Minister of Finance of the autonomous Puntland region in the northeast. From 8 January 2009 to 8 January 2014, Farole was also the President of Puntland. Farole's multipronged efforts at creating provisions and collaboration with international polities and organizations resulted in a drastic decrease in piracy along the Marinka Gardafuul.
Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, popularly known as Omar Sharmarke, is a Somali diplomat and politician. From 2009 to 2010, he was the Prime Minister of Somalia. He subsequently briefly served as Somalia's Ambassador to the United States in 2014. In December 2014, Sharmarke was reappointed Prime Minister of Somalia. His term ended on 1 March 2017, and he was replaced by Hassan Ali Khaire.
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as Farmaajo, is a Somali politician who served as president of Somalia from 2017 to 2022. He was prime minister of Somalia for six months, from November 2010 to June 2011. Mohamed is the founder and leader of the Tayo Party since 2012.
GeneralAbdisamad Ali Shire was a Vice President of Puntland. From January 8, 2009, to January 8, 2014, he also served as Somali military service.
Horseed is a political party based in Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland state in northeastern Somalia.
The 2014 Puntland presidential election was held on 8 January 2014 in Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland region in northeastern Somalia. The third such vote to be held in the state since its formation in 1998, it followed the election of a new Parliament Speaker and Deputy Speakers on 4 January 2014 by the 66-seat regional legislature. Candidates included officials from the incumbent Puntland administration, former government ministers and prominent local entrepreneurs. The ballot saw the election of former prime minister of Somalia Abdiweli Gaas as the fifth president of Puntland, narrowly defeating the incumbent Abdirahman Farole. Parliament of Puntland concurrently elected Abdihakim Abdullahi Haji Omar as Puntland's new vice president in place of Abdisamad Ali Shire.
Indirect presidential elections were held in Somalia on 8 February 2017. Members of parliament elected in the autumn-2016 parliamentary election elected former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to the post of President of Somalia for a four-year term.
Presidential elections were held in Somalia in 15 May 2022. The election was held indirectly and after the elections for the House of the People, which began on 1 November 2021 and ended on 13 April 2022.
The Battle of Tukaraq in 2018 saw the Somaliland National Army engage Puntland forces in Tukaraq, a town in the eastern Sool region, on the road between the regional capitals of Las Anod and Garowe. The ensuing heavy clashes resulted in Somaliland ousting the Puntland army from the town. The battle was significant as it was the first time both forces clashed directly.
In 2021, elections for the Federal Parliament and subsequently the President of Somalia were due to take place, following a national agreement to reschedule them from the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Municipal elections were held in Puntland, a state of Somalia, on October 25, 2021, with the preliminary elections in Qardho, Eyl and Ufayn electing councils for these three districts ahead of state-wide local council elections expected to take place in early 2022. The election was the first one under the principle of one man, one vote to be held in Somalia since 1969 and the state since its formation in 1998.
Indirect presidential elections were held in Puntland on 8 January 2024. The president was elected by members of the House of Representatives in the administrative capital Garoowe and were the fifth election since the state's formation in 1998. Preceding the elections, a new Parliament Speaker and Deputy Speaker was held on 4 January 2024, by the House of Representatives of Puntland. The pool of candidates comprises officials from the current Puntland administration, former government ministers, and notable local entrepreneurs.
