Bosaso (WDN) — Puntland has intensified its military pressure on forces aligned with Somalia’s Federal Government, making clear that it will not accept the existence of parallel armed formations operating outside the authority of the Puntland state.

Puntland forces have moved into Baxo-raako district in Karkaar region in pursuit of troops described by Puntland authorities as federal-aligned forces that withdrew from Carmo in Bari region overnight and subsequently moved into Karkaar.

According to local sources who spoke with WardheerNews, , Puntland troops have continued advancing toward Kodmo, an area within Baxo-raako where the federal-aligned forces are reportedly positioned.

The movement has sharply increased tensions in the area, with fears growing that a direct confrontation could erupt between the two forces.

Puntland’s Red Line

The confrontation reflects a much deeper dispute than a single military deployment. At its core is Puntland’s insistence that there can be only one legitimate military command within its territory.

Puntland authorities have repeatedly warned that armed units operating under the command of the Federal Government cannot establish independent military positions or move through Puntland territory without authorization from the regional administration.

The latest military movements suggest that the Puntland government is now prepared to enforce that position on the ground. Officials have previously called on the federal-aligned forces to surrender and integrate into Puntland’s formal security structures. The message now appears increasingly stark: surrender and submit to the state’s authority, or face military action.

The arrival of Puntland forces near Kodmo has transformed what had been a political and administrative dispute into an increasingly dangerous security confrontation.

Local communities are closely watching the developments, amid concerns that fighting between forces drawn from the same broader population could result in civilian casualties, displacement and further political polarization.

The potential confrontation is particularly sensitive because the forces described as federal-aligned reportedly originate from the area. Any fighting could therefore carry consequences extending well beyond the battlefield, potentially deepening clan and political tensions.

Puntland has nonetheless maintained that the issue is fundamentally one of state authority and military command rather than political competition.

One State, One Security Structure

The Puntland government’s position is increasingly explicit: it will not tolerate two competing armies operating within its territory. For the administration, allowing a separate force to maintain its own command structure under federal authority would create what it views as a parallel security system capable of challenging Puntland’s constitutional and administrative authority.

The government therefore appears determined to force a resolution—either through the surrender and integration of the forces involved or through military confrontation if they refuse. The coming hours could prove decisive.

If negotiations fail and the federal-aligned troops refuse to withdraw or surrender, Kodmo could become the latest flashpoint in the growing dispute between Puntland and the Federal Government over control of security forces, territorial authority and the limits of federal power.

For now, Puntland has drawn its line. There will not be two armies operating in Puntland. The remaining question is whether the standoff ends through surrender and integration—or through another battle.

WardheerNews