Puntland

Federal Member State in northeastern Somalia

Puntland is a region in northeastern Somalia, which declared itself an autonomous state in the late 1990s. It borders SSC-Khatumo to the west, Ethiopia to the southwest and the rest of Somalia to the south. Puntland is credited with being the inventors of the monarchical form of government with monarchs such as King Perahu and others dating to 25th century BC.

Travel Warning WARNING: Puntland is not safe for travel. Many governments advise against all travel to the region. The US State Department and British FCO warn that violent crime, such as kidnapping and murder, is common in Puntland.
Government travel advisories
(Information last updated 09 Jan 2024)

Cities

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Understand

Puntland (Somali: Buntlaand, Arabic: ุฃุฑุถ ุงู„ุจู†ุทโ€Ž ), officially the Puntland State of Somalia (Somali: Maamul Goboleedka Buntlaand ee Soomaaliya), is a region in northeastern Somalia, centred on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998.

Puntland is bordered by the SSC-Khatumo state to its west, the Gulf of Aden in the north, the Indian Ocean in the southeast, the central Galmudug region in the south, and Ethiopia in the southwest.

A third of Somalia's population lives in the territory, which contains about a third of the nation's geographical area. Unlike Somaliland, Puntland, as with all other regions in the country, does not seek outright independence from Somalia.

The name "Puntland" is derived from the Land of Punt mentioned by ancient Egyptian sources. The exact location of the fabled territory is still a mystery. Many studies suggest that the Land of Punt was located in present-day Somalia, while others propose that it was situated elsewhere.

Puntland is relatively peaceful compared to other regions of Somalia, with its own government and public services; however, it's best to hire a local police unit for the day.

Read

The Pirates of Somalia: Inside their Hidden World, by Jay Bahadur. A detailed and engaging look at life in Puntland and the modern-day pirates who call it home.

Get in

The flight from Dubai on Jubba Airways takes 2-3 hours. You could continue from Bosaaso to various other cities including Garowe, Galkacyo and Laascaanood.

See

Somalia has the longest coast in Africa and Puntland possesses over a 1/3 of that, 1,000 km. Its beaches are largely untouched.


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