4/25/2025
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Puntland establishes own ID agency, rejects federal program
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    Wednesday April 9, 2025



    Garowe (HOL) — Puntland has launched its own civilian identification authority, intensifying its standoff with Somalia’s federal government over the rollout of a national biometric ID system.

    President Said Abdullahi Deni signed a decree on Wednesday establishing the Puntland Identification Authority (PID), which will oversee identity card issuance in the region independently of federal oversight. The move challenges a key federal mandate requiring all public and private service providers to integrate the national biometric ID into their operations.

    Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre says the ID system is essential to modernizing governance, enhancing security, and improving public service delivery. Barre recently directed that access to all government services be tied to possession of the national ID card, calling the initiative “a platform for development—politically, economically, and in terms of governance.”

    The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) manages the program and aims to register 15 million citizens before the 2026 elections. It has received $10.5 million in financial and technical support from Pakistan’s NADRA, one of the world’s largest biometric database operators.

    Puntland, however, has rejected the federal ID system, arguing it lacks legal consensus and threatens regional autonomy. The regional Ministry of Interior warned citizens against enrolling, calling the program politically motivated and aimed at influencing future elections without consultation.

    “The registration is politically driven and undermines Puntland’s autonomy,” the ministry said in a March statement. It also criticized the federal system’s data security, stating that it is “neither secure nor protected from unauthorized access.”

    The standoff escalated in March when Puntland security forces arrested a journalist in Galkayo who allegedly registered for the federal ID. Authorities said participants in the program could face penalties, including loss of their Puntland citizenship rights.

    Adding to the controversy, NIRA recently denied claims that it reassigned the Puntland districts of Galdogob and Jariiban to the neighbouring Galmudug state. The agency said the form circulating online making the claim was fake and reiterated that it does not have the authority to alter state boundaries.

    Despite regional pushback, federal officials remain committed to the initiative. Interior Minister Ali Yusuf Ali said the ID card will be integrated across government services and enhance trust in public institutions. NIRA Director General Abdiweli Ali Abdulle added that the ID project is “foundational to Somalia’s future,” supporting everything from elections to financial inclusion.

     





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