# Constitution of Puntland > The Constitution of Puntland: the 1998 Garowe charter, the 2001 and 2012 texts, what the 2012 constitution contains, the 2023 amendments and the dispute around them. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/government/constitution-of-puntland/ Last checked: 2026-11-13 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## What is it? The Constitution of Puntland is the highest law of [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/), a federal member state of Somalia in the north-east. It sets out how the state government is chosen, what powers it has and which rights people hold. It is subject only to the federal constitution ([Wikipedia, Constitution of Puntland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Puntland)). An English translation of an earlier text is kept by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization ([FAOLEX, Constitution of Puntland](https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/som197962.pdf)). ## How was it made? **1998: the Garowe charter.** Delegates began arriving in Garowe in early May 1998. The constitutional conference opened on 15 May. More than 460 delegates from the area's communities took part. They adopted a provisional charter in July and elected a president and vice-president, founding the Puntland State of Somalia ([Interpeace and PDRC, The Puntland Experience](http://www.radiodaljir.com/audio/docs/ipThePuntlandExperience.pdf)). **2001: a transitional constitution.** Puntland's House of Representatives adopted a transitional constitution. It allowed for a future federal Somalia and set up a commission to draft a permanent text ([UNDP Somalia, Transitional Constitution of Puntland](http://www.so.undp.org/docs/Puntland%202001%20English.pdf)). Its principles included Islamic law, shared decision-making, separation of powers, decentralisation, a multi-party system, private property and individual rights (same source). **2012: the permanent constitution.** On 18 April 2012 a constituent assembly approved the current text. Of 480 delegates, 472 voted in favour ([AllAfrica, 18 Apr 2012](http://allafrica.com/stories/201204181369.html)). A first draft had been published in 2007 ([Garowe Online, draft constitution, archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121130162817/http://files.garoweonline.com/dastuurpl.pdf)). ## What does the 2012 constitution contain? It has six parts ([Wikipedia, outline of the text](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Puntland)): 1. **The state and its principles:** name, rule of law, system of government, census, land and borders, language, religion, capital (Garowe), flag and anthem. 2. **Rights:** individual rights and when they can be suspended, family rights, citizenship and voting. 3. **The economy:** free enterprise, natural resources, the environment, the state's role, joint ventures and public property. 4. **The structure of government:** a parliamentary system with three branches. It also sets up the Attorney General, an office for human rights, the Auditor General, the electoral authority, and regional and district administrations. 5. **Administration:** the civil service and public finance. 6. **Supremacy and reform:** the constitution's rank, how to amend it, and harmonisation with the federal constitution (Article 135). The House of Representatives has 66 members, chosen through clan elders and delegates, and elects the president. The 2012 text limited the number of political parties to three ([Elections in Puntland](/en/institutions/elections-in-puntland/), citing [FAOLEX](https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/som197962.pdf)). ## The 2023 amendments In 2023 the government proposed to change two articles ([Goobjoog News, 26 Jul 2023](https://en.goobjoog.com/explainer-controversial-law-review-in-puntland-and-oppositions-grievances)): - **Article 44:** the president, vice-president, MPs and district councils would be "elected directly by the people", instead of MPs being chosen by clan caucuses. - **Article 46:** any party that won a district council seat would be registered. From 2028 a party would need at least 5 percent of council seats to qualify. While parliament debated the changes in late June 2023, government and opposition forces clashed in Garowe. At least 30 people were killed ([Goobjoog News](https://en.goobjoog.com/explainer-controversial-law-review-in-puntland-and-oppositions-grievances); [Al Jazeera, 20 Jun 2023](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/20/fight-erupts-in-somalias-puntland-region-after-parliament-debate)). A ceasefire was agreed on 21 June ([Al Jazeera, 21 Jun 2023](https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2023/6/21/armed-factions-in-somalias-puntland-agree-ceasefire-after-clash)). Parliament passed the amendments with 54 votes for and 6 against, of 60 MPs present ([Goobjoog News](https://en.goobjoog.com/explainer-controversial-law-review-in-puntland-and-oppositions-grievances)). Critics said President [Said Abdullahi Deni](/en/people/said-abdullahi-deni/) wanted more time in office. Guled Salah Barre and the Mideeye political organisation petitioned the Constitutional Court (same source). The direct presidential vote was later dropped. On 8 January 2024 parliament re-elected Deni by 45 votes to 21 ([Elections in Puntland](/en/institutions/elections-in-puntland/)). ## Puntland and the federal constitution Puntland withdrew recognition of the federal government in March 2024, after the federal parliament amended four chapters of the federal constitution ([Eastleigh Voice, 2024](https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/puntland%20somalia/29920/puntland-withdraws-recognition-of-somalia-govt-after-constitutional-changes)). It also rejects the federal amendments of March 2026 ([Africa at LSE, 13 May 2026](https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2026/05/13/somalia-is-about-to-enter-a-constitutional-crisis/)). See [Constitution of Somalia](/en/institutions/constitution-of-somalia/). ## Related pages - [Puntland institutions](/en/institutions/puntland-institutions/) - [Presidents of Puntland](/en/institutions/presidents-of-puntland/) --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. 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