Garowe (WDN) – Friday prayers across Puntland’s capital, Garowe, became a platform for calls to safeguard the region’s security and political stability as tensions continue to mount over allegations that Somalia’s Federal Government is seeking to undermine Puntland through military deployments and weapons transfers.
Imams and religious scholars used their weekly sermons to urge residents to remain united in defense of Puntland’s peace, warning against what they described as attempts to destabilize one of Somalia’s most stable federal member states.
The increasingly vocal response from Puntland’s religious leaders reflects the growing public anxiety over the unfolding crisis. By addressing the issue from mosque pulpits, they have elevated the dispute beyond politics, framing the preservation of Puntland’s peace and stability as both a civic and moral obligation.
The clerics called on the public to reject any actions or actors they believe threaten Puntland’s security, emphasizing that preserving peace and constitutional order should remain a collective responsibility. The sermons come amid an escalating political confrontation between the Puntland administration and the Federal Government in Mogadishu.
President Said Abdullahi Deni who facing a mounting allegations of maladministration, abuse of power and corruption, has accused the Federal Government of pursuing a unilateral campaign aimed at weakening Puntland’s institutions. Puntland officials allege that Mogadishu has been organizing armed groups and facilitating the movement of weapons into parts of Puntland without the consent of the regional authorities—claims the Federal Government has not publicly addressed.
According to Puntland officials, the Mudug region has become a particular focus of concern, with reports of increased federal military activity fueling fears of further escalation. The Puntland government has vowed to take what it describes as appropriate measures to protect the region’s security and constitutional authority.
The dispute marks the latest chapter in the deepening political rift between Puntland and the Federal Government, whose relations have deteriorated sharply over disagreements concerning constitutional reforms, electoral arrangements, federal-state powers, and governance.
The meddling and interference of Villa Somalia to alter the balance of power inside Puntland without broad political consensus risks inflaming an already fragile relationship between Mogadishu and one of the country’s most influential federal member states.
As accusations and counteraccusations continue to intensify, concerns are mounting that Somalia’s unresolved political disputes could further strain relations between the Federal Government and Puntland unless addressed through dialogue and constitutional mechanisms rather than confrontation.
WardheerNews