Monday June 2, 2025

Aerial view of Puntland’s presidential complex and key government offices in Garowe

Mogadishu (HOL) — Puntland government employees have gone unpaid for up to 10 months, with civil servants warning that prolonged salary delays are paralyzing state institutions and eroding public trust in the administration’s financial management.

Several workers told Hiiraan Online they received just one paycheck in 2025—for February, which was paid in March—leaving them without salaries for at least four months this year. Combined with missed wages in 2024, some civil servants have effectively worked unpaid for most of the past year.

The nonpayment has disrupted day-to-day operations across Puntland’s ministries, with numerous offices either operating at minimal capacity or halting services altogether. The crisis is unfolding amid an ongoing hiring freeze, first imposed last year after reports emerged that some ministers were covertly adding family members to the government payroll.

The state’s finance minister Mohamed Farah appeared before Puntland’s parliament last month, blaming the crisis on a drop in external funding. He cited reductions in the World Bank’s annual budgetary support to Puntland, a key source of financing for the region’s civil service.

Adding to the pressure, international aid agencies operating in Puntland have also downsized, laying off hundreds of staff after funding cuts from donor partners. The dual blow from domestic salary delays and foreign aid reductions has left many households struggling to make ends meet.

The crisis coincides with critical political milestones in Puntland, including upcoming local elections and planned governance reforms. Civil servants are urging authorities to urgently resolve the crisis, warning that continued delays could further weaken the region’s already strained institutions.