Puntland Formally Declares 'Constitutional Vacuum'; Urges President to Negotiate Before May 15 Term Expiry

Puntland's cabinet formally declared on April 17, 2026, that Somalia had 'entered constitutional ambiguity,' citing Articles 60 and 91 of Somalia's Provisional Constitution. With the Federal Parliament's mandate having expired on April 14 without elections, and the presidential term due to expire on May 15, 2026, Puntland warned that 'the country risked sliding into political breakdown and security turmoil.' The state called on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to convene urgent consultations with all Somali stakeholders — including federal member states — before his mandate concludes in less than 30 days. Puntland urged a consensus-based approach to establishing electoral procedures for both parliament and the presidency. Shabelle Media Network noted this was framed specifically as a 30-day countdown warning to the presidential term. Garowe Online confirmed Puntland urged President Mohamud to proactively seek 'a political deal.' The declaration amplifies the pressure on the FGS, which has maintained the contested March 2026 constitutional amendments (passed in a disputed parliamentary session lacking the required quorum) legitimize a term extension to May 2027. The simultaneous constitutional deadlines and Al-Shabaab's continued capacity to exploit political vacuums create an unprecedented convergence of security and governance risks.