Garowe (WDN) – Puntland has issued a strongly worded statement accusing Somalia’s Federal Government of deliberately escalating tensions by transporting weapons and military personnel into Puntland territory, warning that such actions threaten the fragile stability of the Mudug region.

In a press release issued on 4 August 2026, the Puntland Presidency alleged that the Federal Government transported another shipment of weapons into Galkayo on Tuesday through the Galmudug-controlled side of the divided city, claiming the arms were ultimately intended for deployment inside Puntland.

According to the statement, security agencies and local residents in Galmudug intercepted the shipment before it reached its intended destination. Puntland further alleged that the interception triggered an armed confrontation that resulted in casualties, although it did not specify the number of those killed or wounded.

The Federal Government has not publicly responded to Puntland’s allegations, and the claims could not be independently verified. Puntland praised the Galmudug administration, its security forces, and local communities for what it described as preventing an attempt by the Federal Government to destabilize the Mudug region.

The regional administration said the incident demonstrated the importance of continued security cooperation between Puntland and Galmudug, noting that the two neighboring administrations have maintained longstanding relations based on peaceful coexistence, shared communities, and mutual responsibility for preserving stability in the region.

The statement went further by directly accusing former Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of attempting to ignite conflict in Mudug, particularly in Galkayo, a city shared by Puntland and Galmudug that has historically experienced periodic tensions but has largely remained stable in recent years. Puntland warned that any deterioration in security resulting from what it described as the Federal Government’s actions would rest solely with Mogadishu.

The administration also appealed to the Somali public and the international community to closely monitor what it characterized as increasingly destabilizing activities by the Federal Government, arguing that introducing weapons into politically sensitive areas risks undermining regional peace at a time when Somalia is already grappling with heightened political uncertainty and persistent security threats.

Concluding its statement, Puntland called on its citizens to remain vigilant against what it described as Federal Government interference in the region’s security affairs and urged the public to unite in safeguarding Puntland’s autonomy, security, and stability.

The allegations come amid growing strains between Puntland and the Federal Government, further highlighting the deepening political and security divisions that continue to shape relations between Mogadishu and several of Somalia’s federal member states.

WardheerNews