Kismayo (WDN) – The Jubaland administration has strongly condemned the armed clashes that erupted on Wednesday between Puntland security forces and the Puntland Security Forces (PSF) in northern Galkayo, accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of deliberately escalating tensions in Puntland.

In a statement issued by the Jubaland Presidency, the administration alleged that the Federal Government is diverting military resources away from the fight against Al-Shabaab and instead using them to provoke instability in areas that have remained relatively peaceful.

“It is deeply regrettable that, while the Somali National Army units fighting Al-Shabaab—particularly in the Hiiraan region—continue to face shortages of weapons and logistical support, military equipment and arms are instead being transported into peaceful areas where security and stability have already been established,” the statement said.

Jubaland argued that such actions risk undermining national security priorities at a time when Somali forces remain engaged in intense operations against Al-Shabaab in several regions of the country.

The administration further warned that the reported movement of weapons and military personnel into Puntland threatens peace, stability, and social cohesion, while jeopardizing the hard-earned progress made in restoring security and reconciliation in the divided city of Galkayo.

Jubaland also praised what it described as the unity demonstrated by the Puntland Government and its people in confronting what it characterized as an attempt to destabilize the regional administration.

“The people and leadership of Puntland deserve recognition for standing together to defend the state’s security and constitutional order,” the statement said. Wednesday’s fighting in Galkayo resulted in casualties, although the exact number of those killed or wounded has yet to be independently confirmed.

The latest accusations underscore the widening political and security rift between Somalia’s Federal Government and two of its largest Federal Member States—Puntland and Jubaland—raising fresh concerns that internal disputes are increasingly spilling over into armed confrontations at a time when Al-Shabaab continues to mount significant offensives across southern and central Somalia.

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