President of Puntland

The president of Puntland is the head of government and state of Puntland. The Presidency was elected by the House of Representatives of Puntland behind establishing the Puntland State in Somalia on August 1, 1998.

History and Establishment
In 1998, the state of Puntland declared its autonomy, and Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, who later served as the 8th President of Somalia, was chosen as the state's first president.

On 8 January 2024, President Said Abdullahi Deni was re-elected in the 2024 Puntland presidential election.

Qualification eligibility
To be eligible as the president of Puntland, according to Article 78 of the Puntland Constitution. candidate must meet the following criteria:


 * Be a native of Puntland.
 * Be a practicing Muslim.
 * Be mentally sound.
 * Be older than age 40.
 * Not be married to a foreigner.
 * Have educational qualifications, experience, and leadership credentials.
 * Have lived in Puntland for the past two years.
 * Not have been convicted by a court of a major crime.

Term of Office
The president is selected for a term of five years. There are no term extensions for the president since Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. That extension caused unrest and crisis in Puntland for three years. Since 2005 Puntland presidential election, the presidential election should be held on January 8th after the president has completed their term in office, according to the Constitution of Puntland. The term of office of the incumbent president continues until the president-elect takes office. Upon assuming office, the president takes the following oath infront of the House of Representatives of Puntland;