The formation of the Puntland administration, 1998

On 23 July 1998 the political and traditional leaders of Somalia’s north eastern regions declared the autonomous Puntland State of Somalia under the presidency of former SSDF chairman, Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf. A nine-member cabinet was appointed and a 69-member parliament, including five seats reserved for women. According to its founding charter Puntland is a first step towards rebuilding a future united but federal Somalia.11 Even though it lacked the infrastructure and potential revenue sources of Somaliland, the administration’s first term did see the establishment of a police force and integration of former militia members into a new security force. In June 2001, however, the admin­istration’s three-year term expired and failure to agree a transfer of power led to a constitutional crisis which has now threatened the region’s security.