Mogadishu (WDN)- Relations between Puntland and Villa Somalia are steadily drifting further apart as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s mandate nears its May 15 expiration, with no negotiated settlement in place for the federal elections.

A shadow of intrigue looms over Mogadishu as General Jimcaale Jaamac Takar, the commander of Puntland’s elite Danab forces, arrives in the capital Mogadishu, after a formal summons. According to Puntland Post, the general left Laascaanood today, Thursday, sparking speculation about the timing.

While in Mogadishu, Takar is expected to confer with Somali National Army Commander Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud and other senior federal officials. This unexpected trip comes amid a growing rift between the federal government and Puntland. Once firmly anchored in Puntland’s security framework, the Danab forces have now been drawing salaries directly from the federal government—a move those escalated tensions after a bitter fallout between Takar and Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni.

What is unfolding is more than a simple leadership shuffle, it’s a calculated power play. The federal government, unable to challenge Puntland’s formidable security architecture head-on, is quietly infiltrating Puntland’s ranks, sowing discord from within.

As Puntland battles ISIS with growing effectiveness, while President Hassan Sheikh is consolidating power, stoking instability within Puntland’s own institutions, risking a dangerous unraveling in the north. What endgame is being played behind closed doors remains to be seen.

WardheerNews