Kismayo (WDN) – Jubaland has accused Somalia’s Federal Government of shifting its political and military focus toward Puntland after, in its view, failing to achieve its objectives during last year’s confrontation in Jubaland.

In a strongly worded statement posted on his official Facebook page, Jubaland’s Minister of Information, Abdifatah Mohamed Mukhtar, alleged that Mogadishu is pursuing against Puntland the same strategy it previously employed in Jubaland.

“The Federal Government of Somalia, after failing in its offensives against Jubaland and after the people of Jubaland firmly defended themselves, has now redirected its political ambitions and pressure toward Puntland,” the minister wrote.

His remarks come amid escalating political and security tensions surrounding Puntland, where concerns have grown over the deployment of Federal Government forces and armed units in and around the region. Puntland officials have repeatedly argued that such deployments have taken place without consultation with the regional administration, raising fears of a wider confrontation.

Mukhtar expressed confidence that Puntland would respond in the same manner that Jubaland claims to have resisted previous federal pressure.

“The reality is that the people and the Government of Puntland are equally capable of resisting and confronting any attempt that threatens their peace, stability, and self-governance,” he said.

The comments underscore growing solidarity between Puntland and Jubaland, the two Federal Member States that have frequently found themselves at odds with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration over constitutional reforms, electoral arrangements, and the balance of power within Somalia’s federal system.

The Jubaland minister also delivered a direct message to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, warning that political decisions based on coercion rather than dialogue could carry lasting consequences.

“Politics is not built on power and pressure alone,” Mukhtar wrote. “Every coercive action carries political consequences that will ultimately have to be accounted for.”

The statement reflects the increasingly confrontational rhetoric emerging from Somalia’s regional administrations as relations between Mogadishu and several Federal Member States continue to deteriorate.

Rising Political Tensions

The exchange comes at a particularly sensitive moment as Somalia faces deep disagreements over elections, constitutional legitimacy, and the future of the country’s federal structure. Opposition leaders and several regional administrations have accused the Federal Government of centralizing power and undermining federal autonomy, allegations that Mogadishu has consistently rejected.

With Puntland and Jubaland openly aligning their political messaging, observers warn that the dispute risks widening the divide between the Federal Government and key regional stakeholders, adding further uncertainty to Somalia’s already fragile political landscape.

Whether the latest accusations will lead to renewed dialogue or deepen the political standoff remains uncertain, but the increasingly sharp exchanges illustrate the growing strain on Somalia’s federal system at a time when national consensus has become more elusive than ever.

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