Somalia govt, Puntland edge closer to armed conflict
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s federal government and the northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland are edging closer to a possible armed confrontation as rival military deployments intensify across the region, fueling fears that a years-long political dispute could erupt into open conflict. Puntland authorities have deployed additional troops across major cities and strengthened security forces stationed […]
Black News 
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s federal government and the northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland are edging closer to a possible armed confrontation as rival military deployments intensify across the region, fueling fears that a years-long political dispute could erupt into open conflict.
Puntland authorities have deployed additional troops across major cities and strengthened security forces stationed at checkpoints outside Bosaso, Garowe, and Galkayo, signaling a significant escalation in tensions between the regional administration and the federal government in Mogadishu.
The reinforced deployments come amid orders issued to Puntland security forces to prevent federal government troops, who maintain bases in several towns across the region, from moving between Puntland’s major urban centers. The move reflects growing mistrust between the two sides, with regional authorities alleging that Mogadishu intends to use federal forces to undermine security within Puntland.
Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni recently accused the federal government of conducting military maneuvers aimed at destabilizing the region. He further alleged that authorities in Mogadishu have armed and supported pirates whose activities have experienced a resurgence along Puntland’s coastline in recent months.
Regional officials have also called on the international community to reinstate the arms embargo on Somalia, which was lifted in late 2023. They argue that heavy weapons acquired by the federal government since the embargo’s removal are being used against federal member states in an effort to weaken Somalia’s federal system and concentrate power under a more centralized government.
The latest escalation comes days after the federal government appointed Gen. Jimale Jama’ Takar, a former Puntland military commander who recently led forces aligned with Mogadishu, as commander of the Somali National Army’s 54th Division.
Gen. Jama and several other military commanders are currently in Mogadishu for consultations with federal authorities and are expected to return to Puntland in the coming days with additional military weapons and equipment intended to strengthen federal forces stationed in the region.
The developments have heightened concerns that rival forces operating within Puntland could clash at any moment. Puntland authorities have instructed regional security forces to block federal troops from moving between key cities, including Galkayo, Garowe, and Bosaso. Should federal forces attempt such movements and encounter resistance, the risk of armed clashes could increase dramatically.
Residents across Puntland’s major cities have increasingly felt the impact of the rival military buildup, with growing fears that they could find themselves caught in the crossfire if tensions between Puntland and the federal government escalate into violence.
The unfolding standoff represents one of the most serious episodes in the long-running dispute between Somalia’s federal government and Puntland, raising fresh concerns about security, political stability, and the future of relations between Mogadishu and one of the country’s most influential federal member states as military deployments continue on both sides.
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