Puntland refused to recognize the authority of the federal government of Somalia on Sunday, rejecting the latest constitutional reforms approved by the Somali Parliament.

The Council of Ministers declared in a statement that Puntland withdrew its recognition and trust in the federal government of Somalia and called for a “mutually agreed constitutional process” and a public referendum in which Puntland participates to pass the new constitution. They further added that Puntland will have its own government functioning independently until an agreement is made.

Furthermore, authorities in the region of Puntland accused current Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of violating the constitution and losing legitimacy. The adoption of the new constitution is the result of an agreement reached last year with the leaders of the federated states, but the agreement was not signed by Puntland’s President Said Abdullahi Deni.

Puntland is a region in northeast Somalia that declared itself as an autonomous state in August 1998 and has been seeking to be part of a federal Somalia. Its decision to withdraw from the Somali federal government follows the amendment of the Somali constitution that was unanimously approved by parliament on Saturday. One of the main changes brought by this amendment is the introduction of universal suffrage, ending the clan-based indirect voting system that has been in place in Somalia for decades.

As a result of this decision, the state of Puntland will negotiate directly with foreign states and international organizations and will separately discuss matters concerning its interests.