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Puntland State of Somalia
Timeline for Puntland Constitutional and Democratization Process
Transitioning from Clan-Based Government System to Constitutional System of Multiparty Democracy
in Puntland State of Somalia
January 1, 2013
February 25, 1998 – March 12, 1998
• Garowe Consultative Conference attended by communities of Northeastern Somalia, with consultative
discussions centered on establishing a shared administration in light of growing insecurity and political
disorder in Somalia
May 15, 1998 – August 1, 1998
• Garowe Constitutional Convention attended by titled traditional elders and 480 Convention Delegates
from five Administrative Regions (Bari, Nugal, Mudug, Sool, and Sanaag) and one District (Buhodle)
• Convention establishes Puntland State of Somalia and agrees on Garowe as Capital City of Puntland
State of Somalia
• Convention approves a Provisional Charter (August 1998 – June 2001), with an independent Judiciary,
a 66-member clan-based Parliament – nominated by Puntland traditional elders – that elects a
President and Vice President for a three-year interim period
August 1, 1998 – June 30, 2001
• The first President of Puntland H.E. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and Vice President H.E. Mohamed Abdi
Hashi serve a three-year interim period
July 1, 2001 – May 17, 2003
• Puntland undergoes a period of constitutional crisis – leading to armed dispute between two political
factions
• On May 17, 2003, the two political factions sign a peace agreement in Bossaso
May 17, 2003 – January 8, 2005
• H.E. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed continues to serve as President of Puntland, until October 10, 2004, when
Yusuf was elected as President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia
• The Puntland Vice President H.E. Mohamed Abdi Hashi assumes power as President of Puntland, until
presidential election of January 8, 2005
January 8, 2005
• H.E. Mohamud Muse Hersi (Adde Muse) and H.E. Hassan Dahir Mohamud (Afqurac) elected as
President and Vice President of Puntland, respectively
December 2006
• Puntland President H.E. Adde Muse issues a five-point presidential decree, highlighting issues of: a)
constitutional review process; b) nomination of electoral commission; c) public dissemination; d)
referendum; and e) local and parliamentary elections
February 2007
• Puntland President H.E. Adde Muse appoints 14-member Constitution Review Committee, to work with
local and international partners, including PDRC and Interpeace for technical and financial support
• Constitution Review Committee reviews the Draft Constitution and conducts public consultations and
public dissemination of Draft Constitution
June 2, 2008
• Constitution Review Committee presents Draft Puntland Constitution to Puntland Council of Ministers,
which debates, approves and submits the Draft Constitution to the Puntland Parliament
November 2008
• Temporary Puntland Electoral Commission is nominated to conform set of criteria for new Members of
Parliament selected by traditional elders and civil society
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January 8, 2009
• H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole) and H.E. Abdisamad Ali Shire elected as President and
Vice President of Puntland, respectively
February 2009
• President Farole nominates Puntland State Minister of the Presidency for Democratization Process and
Federal Affairs
• Puntland Government requests Puntland Parliament to return Draft Constitution to Government for
further review and public consultations, to conform to Islamic law and international standards
June 15, 2009
• Puntland Parliament approves revised draft of the Puntland Constitution, reviewed and approved by the
Puntland Council of Ministers
Puntland Democratization Milestones
January 2, 2011
• Puntland Parliament approves Puntland Electoral Commission Law
July 17, 2011
• Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC) established
November 29, 2011
• Puntland Parliament approves Puntland Referendum Law
April 18, 2012
• The Puntland Constituent Assembly convention adopts the Puntland Constitution in Garowe, in the
presence of titled traditional elders, Puntland civil society, TFG Ministers, international diplomats and
donor community members, United Nations representatives, and local and international media
• Puntland Supreme Court certifies and endorses constitutional adoption
June 2012
• Puntland Parliament approves Puntland Local Elections Law
September 2, 2012
• Puntland Parliament approves Puntland Political Associations Law
September 11, 2012
• Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission announces the opening period for the registration of
Political Associations in Puntland
November 13, 2012
• With a proposal from TPEC, Puntland Parliament amends the Political Associations Law to ease up the
registration process and the registration fee was reduced by half
September 11 – December 31, 2012
• Nine political associations declared in Puntland
December 31, 2012
• By the closing day for the registration period, the Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission
announces that six Political Associations have been provisionally registered and met the requirements
set by TPEC for the first phase of the registration
• The Political Associations that qualify under the second phase of the registration process will participate
in upcoming Local Council elections, scheduled for May 2013
January 1, 2013 – January 8, 2014 (Way Forward)
• Local Council elections will be followed by:
o Declaration of three official Political Parties of Puntland
o The three Political Parties will each appoint their members to the permanent Puntland Electoral
Commission to guide upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections
o Parliamentary elections
o Presidential elections (President and Vice President)
o The Roadmap for the remaining milestones of the Puntland Democratization Process has been
set and published by the Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC)
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