Somalia’s federal government has sparked a political storm by announcing the formation of a new regional state, the North-East State, from disputed territories claimed by the semi-autonomous regions of Puntland and Somaliland. The decision, announced Wednesday by the interior ministry, raises fears of heightened internal conflict in the fragile Horn of Africa nation.

“Preparations are underway including the selection of lawmakers and election of the regional leader and his deputy,” the interior ministry said in a statement.

The new state would be the country’s seventh and encompasses districts over which both Somaliland and Puntland have long claimed authority. Both territories have rejected the move outright.

Puntland and Somaliland Slam Federal Decision

Information ministers from Somaliland and Puntland issued swift, coordinated condemnations of the federal government’s action. They accused Mogadishu of using “divisionary tactics” and warned the maneuver could provoke renewed civil war.

Puntland, which declared autonomy in 1998 but has not sought international recognition, has often been at odds with Somalia’s central government. Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991, continues to lobby for international recognition as a sovereign nation.

In a related development, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi stated this week that his government could offer the U.S. a military base near the Red Sea and access to critical minerals in exchange for official recognition.

Mounting Regional Frictions

The federal government’s move is seen as part of a broader strategy to reassert control over regions that have operated with increasing autonomy for decades. Analysts warn that rather than consolidating federal unity, the formation of the North-East State could inflame separatist sentiments and destabilize the region further.

Somalia, which has struggled with state fragmentation and internal conflict for more than three decades, risks deepening existing rifts unless dialogue is pursued among all stakeholders.