Galkayo (WDN) — Puntland has declared the successful completion of the first phase of its security operation in Mudug, announcing that armed forces stationed at the Istanbul military camp in Galkayo’s Garsoor district have agreed to join the Puntland Defence Forces.
The development marks a significant shift in the security landscape of Mudug, where tensions had recently intensified over the presence and movement of forces aligned with Somalia’s Federal Government.
In a statement, the Puntland Police said the first phase of the operation had focused on strengthening security, restoring public order and consolidating the state’s security command under legitimate government institutions.
“The Puntland Defence Forces have officially concluded the first phase of the security operation in Mudug, focusing on strengthening security, restoring law and order, and consolidating security authority under government institutions,” the statement said.
From Rival Forces to a Unified Command
Puntland authorities said the armed personnel who had been stationed in Galkayo have agreed to become part of the Puntland Defence Forces.
The forces are now expected to undergo formal integration, including military training and restructuring designed to bring them into compliance with Puntland’s established command structure, discipline, procedures and operational standards.
The move could significantly reduce the risk of confrontation between competing security formations and establish a clearer chain of command in an area where overlapping political and military loyalties have created tensions.
Rather than allowing rival armed groups to remain outside the formal security structure, Puntland’s approach appears aimed at bringing them under a single institutional command.
The announcement came as Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni held talks with Ugaas Abdirahman Ugaas Mohamed, the traditional leader of the Leelkase community.
The meeting carried particular significance given the role that clan and traditional leadership continue to play in maintaining stability in Mudug.
Meanwhile, several military officers from the Leelkase community held a press conference in Galkayo and announced their decision to join Puntland’s security forces.
The developments suggest that the security operation is increasingly being accompanied by political and traditional engagement designed to prevent the dispute from becoming a wider confrontation between communities.
A Test of State Authority
Puntland’s announcement comes against the backdrop of broader disagreements between the regional administration and Somalia’s Federal Government over the deployment and command of security forces in Puntland. The integration of the Galkayo-based forces could therefore represent more than a routine military restructuring.
It is also a test of Puntland’s ability to establish a unified security command and assert the authority of its civilian institutions over armed formations operating within its territory. For residents of Galkayo, the most important outcome may be the prospect of greater stability.
A unified command structure can reduce the risk of misunderstandings between rival forces, improve coordination and create clearer responsibility for maintaining public security.
The completion of the first phase now leaves Puntland facing the more difficult task of ensuring that integration is implemented effectively and that the newly incorporated personnel receive the training, discipline and institutional support necessary to operate as a professional security force.
If that process succeeds, the Mudug operation could become an important example of how political dialogue, traditional leadership and institutional security reform can work together to reduce armed confrontation. For Puntland, the message is increasingly clear: security authority must ultimately rest with accountable state institutions, not competing armed formations.
WardheerNews