Garowe (Somalia Today) — Puntland’s government has publicly accused Qatar of orchestrating the 2019 murder of a DP World port manager in Bosaso, escalating long-simmering Gulf rivalries that have often spilled into Somali politics.
The allegation concerns the killing of Paul Farmosa, a Maltese national shot dead at Bosaso Port. At the time, the Al-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.
DP World, a Dubai-based logistics giant, had been operating the port under a concession with Puntland authorities.
Announcing the claim at a press conference on Monday, Puntland’s Minister of Information directly accused Qatar of backing terrorist groups as well as media outlets that amplify their narratives.
He argued there was no difference between militants “in the mountains” and “those hiding in the media,” and vowed the administration would “fully fight” anyone disseminating propaganda for extremist groups such as ISIS and Al-Shabaab.
Specific allegations
As evidence, the minister stated that Qatar currently hosts Sheikh Mohamed Said Atam, a former Al-Shabaab commander who once led fighters in the Galgala Mountains of Puntland.
Atam later defected from the group and is now reportedly living in Doha, Qatar’s capital, according to the minister.
He also singled out Middle East Eye, a digital news organization, alleging Qatar finances it and “baits fake news” against the Puntland administration. These actions, he said, reflect Qatar’s “bitterness,” claiming Doha is angered by Puntland’s recent gains in its campaign against terrorism.
The accusations immediately raise questions. The murder of Paul Farmosa occurred in March 2019 at the Port of Bosaso, and a different group had already claimed the attack.
Puntland officials did not explain why they are now assigning blame to Qatar, nor did they offer publicly verifiable evidence to support the new allegation.
A visit to the UAE
The timing is notable. Puntland leveled the accusations while its president, Said Deni, is on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the region widely viewed as Puntland’s primary strategic and economic partner.
President Deni has traveled to the UAE more than any other country during his tenure. His current trip includes meetings with senior Emirati officials and business leaders engaged in Puntland-linked projects.
The administration has not published a detailed itinerary or the specific objectives of the visit.
The Horn of Africa has long served as an arena for competition among Gulf powers, with the UAE and Qatar often backing opposing actors across Somalia.
The UAE has invested heavily in Puntland and Somaliland, including in port infrastructure and security training. At the same time, Qatar has generally maintained closer ties with the Federal Government in Mogadishu.
That split routinely shapes local alignments and rhetoric.
The Sudan connection
Deni’s trip also follows recent attention on a UAE-run military facility in Bosaso. For months, journalists and analysts reported that the base had been used to support Emirati-aligned forces in Sudan’s civil war.
The Federal Government of Somalia in Mogadishu recently confirmed elements of those reports, stating that cargo planes departed Bosaso for Sudan with military supplies—operations that bypassed federal authority.
Mogadishu maintains an official policy of neutrality in the Sudan conflict.
Against this backdrop, Puntland’s new claims against Qatar—a principal rival of the UAE—appear aligned with broader regional pressures.
By publicly blaming Qatar now, Puntland further signals its closeness to Emirati partners and its distance from Mogadishu’s diplomatic posture.
Qatari authorities had not issued a public response to Puntland’s allegations and did not respond to Somalia Today’s request for comment.
