Puntland President Deni Accuses Somalia’s Federal Government of Destabilization After Deadly Galkayo Clashes
Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has accused Somalia’s federal government of attempting to destabilize Puntland following deadly clashes between Puntland forces and the Puntland Security Force (PSF) in Galkayo. The confrontation, which left civilians and fighters wounded, has further escalated tensions between Garowe and Mogadishu amid an intensifying political dispute over security and federal authority.
GALKAYO (Somali Report) — Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has accused Somalia's federal government of attempting to destabilize the semi-autonomous state after deadly clashes between Puntland armed forces and the Puntland Security Force (PSF), marking the latest escalation in an increasingly bitter dispute over security, constitutional authority and national politics.
The fighting erupted before dawn on Wednesday in eastern Galkayo, where residents reported hearing heavy machine-gun fire and mortar shelling around Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed Airport. Puntland government forces reportedly targeted a PSF base during the operation. At least one civilian was killed and two others were injured by stray bullets, while several fighters from the rival forces were wounded, according to local sources.
In his first public comments following the clashes, President Deni defended the military operation, describing it as a security mission against what he alleged was a force backed by Somalia's federal government.
Deni claimed Puntland troops had recaptured a military facility that he said had recently been used by the federal government to deploy weapons, ammunition and personnel intended to undermine security inside Puntland. He further alleged that Mogadishu was exploiting local youths and bringing in fighters from outside the region to create instability.
"The Puntland Defence Forces have restored control over a camp that belongs to the Puntland government," Deni said, alleging that the site had been used as part of efforts by the federal authorities to destabilize the region. He praised Puntland's security forces for conducting what he described as a disciplined operation and instructed commanders to ensure that wounded fighters receive medical treatment and detainees are treated humanely.
The president also called on members of the PSF and other armed groups to surrender and integrate into Puntland's official security institutions, insisting that no parallel military force operating under another authority would be permitted inside the state.
"Today there is only one security force operating in Puntland, and that is the Puntland security force," Deni said, warning that those refusing to comply could face similar military action.
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Deni also used the address to launch a sharp political attack on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose constitutional term he described as having expired. He accused the federal leadership of attempting to distract attention from Somalia's political crisis by fueling instability in peaceful regions.
Addressing Hassan Sheikh directly, Deni urged the Somali leader not to "end his political legacy on a bad path" and instead pursue dialogue with Somali political stakeholders. He reaffirmed Puntland's commitment to Somalia's federal system, saying the state remained ready to cooperate with other federal member states while rejecting what he described as interference in its internal affairs.
The federal government had not immediately responded to Deni's latest accusations.
The latest confrontation comes after weeks of rising tensions between Puntland authorities and the PSF, with both sides previously blaming each other for provoking violence. Puntland has repeatedly accused Mogadishu of interfering in regional affairs and attempting to expand its influence over federal member states ahead of planned national elections, allegations the federal government has consistently denied.
The PSF, originally established in the early 2000s as an elite counterterrorism force, played a leading role in operations against al-Shabab and Islamic State militants in Puntland's Cal Madow and Cal Miskaad mountain ranges. Relations with President Deni's administration deteriorated after he assumed office in 2019, culminating in deadly clashes in Bosaso in 2021 despite subsequent attempts at reconciliation.
Following the latest fighting, the PSF rejected Puntland's account of events, insisting its forces had been carrying out a routine security operation before coming under attack. PSF Secretary-General Abdikhaaliq Awil said the unit now falls under Somalia's federal armed forces and argued that the provisional constitution gives responsibility for national defence to the federal government rather than regional administrations. Puntland disputes that interpretation.
Religious leaders, elders and politicians have appealed for restraint, warning that renewed fighting between the rival forces risks undermining security gains in Puntland and further deepening the political divide between Garowe and Mogadishu at a time when Somalia continues to battle militant insurgencies and navigates a contentious political transition.
About the Author
Aden Warsame is a Senior Reporter at Somali Report, covering politics, security, diplomacy, business, and regional affairs across Somalia and the Horn of Africa.