Garowe (WDN) – Following the deadly inter-clan violence that erupted in Adhicadeeye in the Sool region—a territory that Puntland continues to regard as an integral part of its constitutional jurisdiction, Puntland’s State Minister for Information, Najeeb Barkhadle Warsame, stated that the Puntland administration has a responsibility to intervene and take the necessary measures to stop the violence, restore stability, and protect affected communities.
Speaking before the Puntland Parliament, the minister expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the clashes and called on both government institutions and traditional leaders to mobilize efforts to prevent further bloodshed.
“Violence resulting in deaths and injuries has occurred in Sool region, which constitutionally belongs to Puntland. We extend our condolences to the victims and call upon both government and traditional institutions to recognize the seriousness of the situation and fulfill their responsibilities in addressing it,” the minister said. His remarks came after a deadly outbreak of clan fighting in Adhicadeeye that reportedly claimed the lives of more than 20 people, including women, elders, and other civilians caught in the conflict.
Questions Over Capacity
While the government’s statement emphasized responsibility and concern, critics were quick to question whether Puntland possesses the practical capacity to intervene effectively in Sool while facing mounting security and governance challenges closer to home.
The comments have reignited a familiar debate: how can Puntland promise solutions to conflicts in distant parts of Sool when authorities continue to grapple with recurring security incidents across large parts of the state itself?
One of the most serious recent examples involved deadly clashes between rival sub-clans of the Warsangeli community, a conflict that reportedly left more than two dozen people dead before local elders and authorities intervened to restore calm.
From Bari through Nugaal and Mudug, local communities have increasingly witnessed the emergence of clan-based militias operating under the banner of the Federal Government’s security forces. According to local residents, these armed groups are being financed and supported by Mogadishu and deployed under the guise of federal army units, despite lacking the formal structure, discipline, and accountability expected of a national force.
Critics argue that their primary objective is not security or state-building, but rather the destabilization of Puntland—the most institutionally developed and politically stable Federal Member State in Somalia. Their presence has fueled tensions, deepened clan divisions, and raised growing concerns about the militarization of local political disputes across the region.
Puntland’s security institutions have also faced regular disruptions linked to delayed salary payments and resource shortages. On multiple occasions, security personnel have staged protests or blocked roads while demanding overdue payments and improved conditions.
Civil servants have similarly complained of irregular salary disbursements, with critics arguing that the government’s financial constraints continue to undermine public services and administrative effectiveness.
Some observers view the government’s latest statements on Sool with a degree of skepticism.
“The real question is not whether Puntland recognizes responsibility for Sool,” said one political analyst in Garowe who spoke to WardheerNews. “The question is whether it currently has the resources, administrative reach, and political stability necessary to address conflicts there while simultaneously managing its own internal challenges.”
Urgent need for stronger reconciliation
The Adhicadeeye clashes are the latest in a growing series of deadly inter-clan confrontations across Somali-inhabited territories.
In recent years, local conflicts driven by competition over land, grazing rights, revenge killings, and political rivalries have repeatedly escalated into armed confrontations, often resulting in significant civilian casualties.
Particularly alarming has been the increasing number of deaths among traditionally protected groups, including elders, women, and other non-combatants—individuals historically regarded as “Birimagaydo,” or persons who should remain outside the cycle of violence.
For many residents, official statements and condolences have become a familiar ritual following each tragedy. What communities increasingly demand, however, are practical measures capable of preventing the next outbreak of violence before more lives are lost.
As mourning continues in Adhicadeeye, attention now turns to whether Puntland’s pledge to act will translate into meaningful intervention—or whether the statement will join a long list of promises made in the aftermath of yet another preventable conflict.
WardheerNews