Garowe (WDN) – Puntland’s Danab Special Forces Commander, General Jimcaale Jaamac Takar, returned to Garowe on Friday evening following several days of high-level talks with Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, raising hopes that a months-long political and security dispute between the two sides may be nearing resolution.

The general’s return is widely seen as a positive sign that negotiations have made meaningful progress. Sources familiar with the discussions say the parties have narrowed differences on several of the most contentious issues, although a final agreement has yet to be formally announced.

The dialogue followed an intensive mediation effort led by traditional elders, political leaders, and committees from the Nugaal region, who have spent weeks working to end the standoff between General Jimcaale and the Puntland administration.

Former Puntland President Senator Abdirahman Mohamed Farole is reported to have played a central role in the mediation, holding separate meetings with both sides in an effort to build trust and create conditions for a negotiated settlement. According to sources close to the negotiations, the two sides have reached a preliminary understanding, though no official communiqué or signed agreement outlining the terms has yet been released.

People familiar with the talks say discussions focused on General Jimcaale’s relationship with the Federal Government of Somalia, the future status of the forces under his command, and measures to prevent the political dispute from escalating into a security confrontation.

The negotiations reportedly explored the possibility of the general reassessing his military ties and coordination with the Federal Government, while the Puntland administration expressed its willingness to safeguard the rights, welfare, and professional future of security personnel serving within Puntland.

Sources also indicate that President Deni supports recognizing General Jimcaale with the highest military rank to which he is entitled. However, that claim has not been officially confirmed by the Puntland government. Both parties are said to have agreed that Puntland’s security remains a shared responsibility requiring unity among the region’s security institutions and political leadership, and that every effort should be made to avoid actions that could deepen divisions or undermine stability.

Despite the reported progress, negotiators caution that several outstanding issues remain unresolved. Additional meetings are expected in the coming days with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement acceptable to both sides. The talks come amid recent reports that General Jimcaale has been appointed commander of the 54th Division of the Somali National Army, although the Federal Government has not officially confirmed the appointment.

It is also widely believed that General Jimcaale commands forces in Garowe that receive salaries from the Federal Government—an issue that reportedly became one of the central points of contention during the negotiations.

Should the ongoing dialogue culminate in a formal agreement, it could significantly ease tensions between General Jimcaale and the Puntland administration, strengthen cooperation on regional security, and help avert a potentially damaging political and military rift.

For now, however, both the reported terms of the emerging agreement and General Jimcaale’s alleged federal appointment remain subject to official confirmation.

WardheerNews