GAROWE, June 30, 2025 — Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government of Somalia, accusing of covertly recruiting troops within Puntland in what he described as a politically motivated operation to destabilize the region.

Speaking during a ceremony in Garowe marking Somalia’s Independence and Unity Day, President Deni,  with Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor and Speaker of Parliament Abdirizak Ahmed Said, used his address to condemn what he characterized as an unlawful and secretive effort by the federal government to insert armed actors into Puntland territory under the guise of national service.

“It is regrettable,” said Deni, “that on a daily basis we are seeing individuals with laptops claiming to be registering troops in Puntland, troops that are secretly recruited, relocated without coordination, and placed on the payroll of Villa Somalia. This is a disgrace. No one should claim parliamentary immunity while blatantly violating the constitution and the law.”

Deni’s remarks reflect rising tensions between Puntland and the federal government in Mogadishu, where relations have deteriorated over issues of political interference, power-sharing, and control over security forces. His comments suggest that the federal government is attempting to bypass regional authority and establish parallel military structures loyal to the presidency—actions Puntland views as unconstitutional and provocative.

While Villa Somalia has not issued a response to the allegations, the accusations are likely to heighten existing mistrust and complicate efforts to foster political reconciliation between federal institutions and Somalia’s federal member states.

The Puntland administration has repeatedly warned against federal encroachments and maintains that any recruitment or deployment of security forces on its territory must be coordinated with regional authorities under the terms of the provisional federal constitution. Analysts warn that continued interference in regional security matters could escalate political disputes into armed confrontation, especially in an environment already fraught with tensions between federal and regional actors.

WardheerNews