Puntland Enacts New Law Granting Expanded Powers to Security Agencies

Puntland President, Said Abdullahi Deni, has signed a new law titled the “Puntland Counter-Terrorism Law,” which was previously passed by the Puntland Parliament in late July 2025.

This new law authorizes Puntland’s security agencies to take specific measures, some of which extend beyond the standard provisions of the Puntland Constitution.

These measures include allowing security forces to enter a home or premises suspected of housing a terror suspect without a judicial warrant, as well as to wiretap the phones of individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities.

This move has sparked debate concerning Article 21 of the Puntland Constitution, which explicitly prohibits the search, surveillance, or entry into a person’s home without a justified court order, except in urgent circumstances where police are in active pursuit of a criminal or a crime is being committed inside the home.

The law also imposes severe penalties on anyone belonging to or supporting terrorist groups, who could face imprisonment of up to 20 years or the death penalty, specifically for supporting and participating in acts of terrorism.

The Puntland Parliament gazetted the law after the President signed it on October 8th, meaning it has now officially come into effect. It is expected that individuals currently detained on terrorism-related charges will be prosecuted under this new law.

Puntland is currently engaged in intense fighting against the Daesh (ISIS) group, which for nearly 15 years has maintained bases in areas of the Bari region.

The President of Puntland has stated that the final phase of the war against Daesh will involve holding accountable those who have close ties to the group.