Garowe (WDN) – Puntland’s Presidency has issued a categorical declaration that no security force operating under the name Puntland Security Force (PSF) has any legal status within the state’s official defense structure, underscoring the widening political and military rift over competing chains of command inside the region.

In a statement released late Tuesday, the Puntland administration sought to end growing public debate over the force’s legal standing. “The Puntland Government clarifies that there is no force known as the PSF that legally forms part of Puntland’s defense forces,” the presidential statement said.

The declaration comes amid heightened tensions following recent armed confrontations between Puntland security forces and fighters identifying themselves as PSF, the latest of which erupted last week in the Laag area near Bosaso.

Contradicting Local Elders

The Presidency’s statement directly contradicts a declaration issued a day earlier by several respected elders from Mudug, Galkacyo region (the Osman Mahmoud clan), who insisted that the PSF remains a legitimate component of Puntland’s security institutions.

The elders also announced that they were mediating between President Said Abdullahi Deni and the PSF leadership in an effort to prevent further clashes and restore dialogue.

The conflicting statements have highlighted the deep divisions surrounding the future of the force and the broader security architecture of Puntland.

The controversy dates back to November 24, 2021, when President Deni dismissed then-PSF commander Gen. Mohamud Osman Diyaano following a bitter power struggle that triggered one of Puntland’s most serious internal security crises.

Several months later, in March 2022, Deni reorganized the force by appointing Diyaano to lead the newly established Puntland Security Commando Forces (PSCF) while restructuring the broader security apparatus into separate formations, including the Puntland Intelligence and Special Forces (PISF).

Despite those reforms, disagreements over command, legitimacy, and operational authority have continued to fuel recurring confrontations.

Security Tensions Escalate

The Puntland government and fighters operating under the PSF banner have clashed on multiple occasions over the past several years. Their latest confrontation in Laag once again exposed the fragile security environment and the unresolved dispute over who has the legal authority to command armed forces within Puntland.

Political observers warn that the Presidency’s latest declaration is likely to deepen an already polarized debate, particularly as influential clan elders continue to advocate dialogue while government officials insist that only state-recognized security institutions can legally operate inside Puntland.

With trust between the rival sides deteriorating and security tensions remaining high, analysts caution that resolving the dispute will require more than military measures. A lasting settlement, they argue, will depend on a political agreement capable of addressing the competing claims of legitimacy that continue to divide Puntland’s security establishment.

WardheerNews