Garowe (Somalia Today) — Somalia’s Puntland administration on Saturday accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of directing military movements designed to provoke conflict and weaken the regional government, sharply escalating tensions after deadly clashes near the port city of Bosaso.
In a strongly worded statement dated July 25, the Puntland government said it was “closely monitoring all military movements” allegedly being carried out by Mohamud, whom it described as a former president whose constitutional mandate had expired.
The movements aimed to “foment conflict and destroy the system of government in Puntland”, the statement said.
Puntland provided no evidence directly linking Mohamud to the alleged deployments. The Somali federal government and neighbouring Galmudug had not immediately responded to the accusations.
The warning came days after Puntland’s Darawiish forces fought members of the Puntland Security Force, known as the PSF, near Laag on the road linking Bosaso with coastal districts in the Bari region.
At least one PSF fighter reportedly died in the confrontation. Puntland forces later said they had detained several fighters and seized armed vehicles and weapons after forcing the unit back towards Bosaso.
Local reports said regional authorities subsequently ordered personnel regarded as aligned with the federal government to surrender.
Deadly clashes near Bosaso
The PSF began as a specialised counter-terrorism force and has historically operated with considerable independence from Puntland’s regular security command.
That structure has repeatedly caused tensions between PSF commanders and the regional administration.
Fighting between PSF units and forces loyal to Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni killed at least seven people and wounded dozens in Bosaso in December 2021, before traditional elders negotiated a ceasefire.
The latest clashes have drawn the long-running institutional dispute into the wider political confrontation between Puntland and the federal government in Mogadishu.
“There is no force called PSF that legally forms part of the Puntland defence forces,” Puntland said in Saturday’s statement.
The regional government also rejected the presence of any federally registered military unit inside territory under its control.
“There is no force registered with the Federal Government operating in the territories of Puntland,” the statement said.
The current standoff intensified after Mogadishu appointed General Jima’le Takar to command the Somali National Army’s 54th Division, which operates in Puntland.
Garowe rejected the appointment and instructed its forces to restrict the movement of federal troops and other units it considers loyal to Mogadishu.
Puntland later blocked Takar from entering the region unless he renounced the federal appointment, deepening concerns over the possibility of rival security commands operating in the same territory.
Federal dispute deepens
Puntland has also accused the federal government of transporting weapons and mobilising political allies to fuel unrest in the region.
Its security ministry previously barred armed units from outside Puntland and officials appointed by the federal government from entering or operating in areas under its administration.
The confrontation forms part of a broader political crisis involving constitutional amendments, the organisation of national elections and the division of authority between Mogadishu and Somalia’s federal member states.
Puntland withdrew its recognition of federal institutions in 2024 after parliament approved constitutional changes without its support.
The administration said it would operate independently until Somalia’s leaders reached an agreed constitutional settlement through an inclusive political process.
Relations deteriorated further as Puntland and opposition politicians challenged the federal government’s proposed electoral model and questioned whether President Mohamud could remain in office beyond the end of the mandate recognised by his opponents.
The federal government has defended its constitutional reforms as necessary to replace indirect elections with universal suffrage and strengthen Somalia’s political institutions.
Warning to Galmudug
Saturday’s statement widened the dispute by directly warning neighbouring Galmudug state, whose territory borders Puntland in the divided Mudug region.
Puntland urged Galmudug to prevent “military equipment and militias” from passing through airports or territory under its control, alleging that the forces could target Puntland residents.
It reminded Galmudug that the two administrations had maintained “good neighbourliness, security cooperation and peaceful coexistence for a long period”.
The remarks reflected concern in Garowe that weapons or personnel could move north through areas controlled by the federal government or allied regional authorities.
Puntland also appealed to the international community to take notice of the alleged military movements, though it did not request any specific intervention.
The accusations come as Somalia continues to fight Al-Shabaab, which remains active across large parts of southern and central Somalia and has sought to exploit political and security divisions.
Puntland’s forces are also conducting their own campaign against Islamic State militants in the mountainous Bari region, raising fears that an internal confrontation could divert personnel and resources away from counter-terrorism operations.
The Puntland government ended its statement by urging residents to “defend their territory and their statehood”, language likely to deepen concern that the political confrontation could develop into a broader armed conflict.
