Ants Scandal, Political Turmoil, and Unpaid Troops: A Tumultuous Week Raises Serious Questions in Puntland

By Ahmed A. Yusuf

Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni returned to Garowe recently after a two-week visit to the United Arab Emirates, but instead of providing answers about his trip, his arrival has triggered a cascade of questions surrounding political infighting, unpaid security forces, a bizarre ant-smuggling controversy, and the reported arrest of a man who gifted his horse to former Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

As has become increasingly common, President Deni offered no public briefing on the purpose of his frequent UAE visits, the meetings he held, or the outcomes of discussions conducted abroad. For many Puntland residents, the silence has become familiar. Over the past several years, the president has made numerous visits to the Gulf state, yet details of those trips have often remained largely undisclosed, fueling speculation and public curiosity.

A Public Rebuke Sparks Internal Rift

The controversy began almost immediately upon the president’s return. Sources close to the Puntland Presidency claim that President Deni publicly reprimanded State Minister of the Presidency Abdifitah Mohamed Abdinur shortly after arriving at Garowe Airport.

According to individuals familiar with the incident, the criticism occurred in the presence of government officials and members of the public, reportedly leaving the minister deeply angered and humiliated. Within hours, reports emerged that Abdifitah had departed for Ethiopia amid what sources describe as a growing dispute between him and the president.

Neither side has publicly commented on the reported disagreement, but the incident has fueled speculation about internal divisions at Puntland’s administration.

The Ant Scandal Nobody Saw Coming

If the reported political fallout was unexpected, the issue allegedly at its center has left many observers stunned. Multiple sources claim that tensions within the Puntland Presidency are linked to foreign nationals from the Philippines and China who were reportedly brought into Puntland and are allegedly connected to the illegal export of Ants.

Yes, ants.

The allegations involve the trafficking of rare ant species that can fetch significant prices in specialized international markets. While the claims remain unverified, the mere suggestion that an ant-export operation could become entangled in a political dispute inside Puntland’s highest office has captivated public attention.

The episode has generated widespread discussion across social media and political circles, with many asking how a controversy involving insects evolved into a matter of state-level political conflict.

Unpaid Security Forces Block Roads

Meanwhile, President Deni’s return also coincided with growing unrest among Puntland’s security forces. Members of the Puntland Police Rapid Response Unit, who recently completed training at the Carmo Police Academy, reportedly blocked several key roads in Garowe while protesting unpaid salaries.

Although authorities eventually persuaded the troops to reopen the roads, the demonstration highlighted longstanding frustrations among security personnel who say they have endured chronic delays in receiving their wages. Local sources claim that some officers have abandoned their posts altogether, while others have returned to their home communities after losing hope that salary arrears would be paid.

The situation has raised uncomfortable questions, particularly because the units involved are among Puntland’s specially trained forces. Critics are asking why elite security personnel continue to face salary shortages despite years of international support for Puntland’s security sector.

Civil servants have voiced similar complaints, with some government employees alleging that they receive only a few months of salary payments in a typical year.

The Horse Gift That Became a Political Controversy

Yet perhaps the most surprising story of all involves an elderly Puntland resident and a horse. Reports widely circulated on social media claim that authorities detained a man after he publicly announced that he had gifted one of his personal horses to former Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The reported arrest has sparked bewilderment and debate. Critics argue that if the reports are accurate, the incident raises serious questions about individual freedoms and political tolerance. They note that the horse was reportedly private property belonging to the man himself, not state-owned property, and that no allegations of theft or criminal conduct have been publicly presented.

The government has not publicly explained the circumstances surrounding the reported detention. The controversy has quickly become a symbol of the broader political polarization that increasingly characterizes relations between supporters of Puntland’s leadership and those aligned with political actors in Mogadishu.

More Questions Than Answers

Taken individually, each of these developments would be noteworthy. Together, they have produced one of the most unusual political weeks Puntland has witnessed in recent memory: an unexplained foreign trip, reports of a presidential dispute with a senior official, allegations involving international ant trafficking, protests by unpaid security forces, and a controversy surrounding a horse gifted to a former president.

For many Puntland residents, the common thread running through these events is a growing demand for transparency. As speculation continues to mount, one question remains unanswered: are these isolated incidents occurring at the same time, or do they point to deeper political and administrative challenges emerging beneath the surface of Puntland’s government?

Until officials provide clearer explanations, the mystery surrounding this extraordinary week is likely to continue.

Ahmed A. Yusuf
Email: aayuusuf44@gmail.com