Garowe, Somalia – The Puntland State Government of Somalia has issued a strong rejection of any efforts to merge the registration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) with the federal identification system managed by the National Registration and Identification Authority (NIRA).

In a statement released by the Puntland Ministry of Relief and Disaster Management, the regional government said that recent discussions between NIRA and the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) infringe upon the constitutional rights of Federal Member States, which have the mandate to register and manage populations within their territories.

“Puntland strongly rejects any attempts to politicize humanitarian assistance and the coordination of aid,” the statement read.

Puntland warned that such moves could undermine the federal structure enshrined in Somalia’s Provisional Constitution and may disrupt the neutrality and effectiveness of humanitarian interventions.

Puntland also called on international donors, humanitarian organizations, and partners to oppose any attempts that may jeopardize the humanitarian principles guiding aid delivery in Somalia.

The response follows a statement by NIRA during the Somali Humanitarian Affairs Platform on April 22, where the agency argued that a unified national ID system is essential to coordinating and securing aid across the country.