The Attorney General of Puntland has issued an arrest warrant for Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril Abwaan, the former Speaker of the Puntland Parliament, following his public support for the self-declared SSC-Khaatumo administration in northern Somalia.
Abdirashid, who recently returned to Puntland, is accused of compromising the state’s security and violating Articles 221, 223, and 233 of the Somali Penal Code—provisions related to offenses against state security. Authorities also allege that he planned to escort a delegation from the Sanaag region to attend the Lasanod conference, a political gathering aimed at finalizing the structure of the emerging SSC-Khaatumo administration.
His arrest warrant follows a high-profile resignation announcement made on Sunday. Speaking at the Lasanod conference—held in the capital of the disputed Sool region—Abdirashid declared his withdrawal from the Puntland Parliament, stating that he could no longer represent a government that did not reflect the will of his constituents.
“My people have chosen SSC-Khaatumo, and I stand with their decision,” he said during his speech, aligning himself with a movement that seeks autonomy for the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC) regions and rejects Puntland and Somaliland’s competing territorial claims.
In response, the Puntland Attorney General swiftly submitted a formal request to the regional parliament, urging lawmakers to revoke Abdirashid’s parliamentary immunity. The Attorney General accused him of endangering public security and aiding in the buildup of an unauthorized militia.
A letter from the Attorney General’s office pointed to social media images of Abdirashid dressed in military fatigues, which were presented as evidence of his alleged involvement in mobilizing armed groups sympathetic to SSC-Khaatumo. The office reiterated the seriousness of the charges and emphasized the need to proceed with arrest and prosecution.
This development comes amid growing political unrest in northern Somalia, where the SSC-Khaatumo movement has been gaining momentum. The group has seen increasing support in the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn regions, particularly following recent clashes with Somaliland forces near Lasanod.
Political analysts warn that Abdirashid’s defection could inspire other lawmakers from the disputed regions to distance themselves from Puntland, potentially deepening the fractures within Somalia’s federal framework and further complicating efforts to stabilize the region.
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