Puntland’s Descent Into Piracy Must Be Confronted Head-On

I was among the first to sound the alarm: Puntland’s leadership had no intention of playing by the rules of lawful maritime conduct. For years, I closely tracked their rhetoric — and the signs were there. The current Interior Minister of Puntland, Mr. Abdi Farah Juxa, openly and repeatedly stated, “Puntland negotiates with what it controls.” That wasn’t political theory. It was a warning. Translation? They’ll blockade the sea if that’s what it takes to extract leverage.

And now, the warning has materialized. A ship has been seized — not by faceless pirates in ragtag skiffs, but by a regional authority masquerading as a government. Puntland has now formally graduated into a state sponsor of piracy.This is not a misunderstanding. This is policy.

And here’s the hard truth: They won’t stop. Not unless they’re stopped. And not just by the federal government — but by Somalia’s international allies, other federal member states, and even the people of Puntland themselves, who are increasingly disillusioned with the reckless and isolating path their leaders have chosen.

The Somali Government Has Two Clear Options:

1. Declare Puntland a Piracy State and Act Accordingly.
Let the Somali government file charges in international courts and formally announce to the world that Puntland, under Said Abdullahi Deni’s rule, is a rogue entity engaging in state piracy. Let international partners and regional actors know that any ship passing through Puntland-controlled waters must be protected by force if necessary. Somalia must assert its sovereignty — not just on land, but across the seas.

2. Apply the Law of Reciprocity.
If Puntland hijacks a vessel headed to Mogadishu or elsewhere, the Somali people — from Galmudug to Hargeisa — must respond in kind. Any ship headed to Bosaso should be intercepted as retaliation. Let Puntland feel the economic pain they are inflicting. When the cost of living doubles, and commerce dries up, the very clans who prop up Puntland’s rulers will rise against them. That is how internal pressure is built. That is how rogue leadership collapses.

This Is No Longer Politics — It’s Strategy by Piracy

Puntland’s seizure of ships isn’t a one-off incident. It’s a calculated maneuver. It’s the last card in their deck — a hostage strategy, not unlike the piracy wave that once plagued Somalia’s coasts in the 2000s. This time, however, it’s being executed under the banner of a regional government.

The Somali government must stop treating this like a family disagreement. It is an act of war against national sovereignty. The international community must recognize this for what it is: piracy in a political suit.

The people of Somalia must prepare. Tighten your belts. Ready your resolve. We are entering a new era — one where confronting Puntland’s piracy state isn’t just a choice. It’s a duty.