Somalia Civil War - Puntland
Leaders in the northeast proclaimed the formation of the "Puntland" state in July 1998, after a conference was held in Garowe attended by delegates and observers from the Bari, Nugal, Sool and Sanaag regions. The conference ended by formulating a new "social contract" as a basis for the restoration of effective state authority in these regions. In contrast to Somaliland, however, Puntland has never considered itself a separate entity. Although the Puntland's leader publicly announced that he did not plan to break away from the remainder of the country, suspicions lingered. Puntland's leadership banned all political parties for 3 years, starting in August 1998.
Tension persists between Somaliland and Puntland over the Sool and Sanaag regions, which are claimed by both.
