Badhan (WDN) –Armed tensions are escalating in Ceel-Buh in the Sanaag region, as forces of the Maakhir movement reportedly supported by and loyal to the Federal Government of Somalia and the Puntland State—inch closer to a direct confrontation over territorial control.

According to local sources, military vehicles and reinforcements from both camps are converging on the town, signaling the risk of an imminent clash. At the center of the standoff is former Puntland Parliament Speaker Cabdirashiid Yuusuf Jibriil, who, backed by the federal government, is reportedly attempting to assert influence in the area.

The former speaker, who hails from the Sanaag and Haylan regions, is said to have received political and logistical support from the Villa Somalia and the recently recognized SSC-Khaatumo administration. His moves are widely perceived as an attempt to shift Ceel-Buh and surrounding areas under SSC-Khaatumo’s jurisdiction — a move Puntland vehemently opposes.

Unverified reports indicate that a new consignment of federal government-supplied weapons is en route to Las Anod, intended for transfer to Ceel-Buh in support of Jibriil’s faction. The town is now witnessing an unusual buildup of troops and heavy equipment, with local residents expressing concern over the potential for conflict.

The situation is further complicated by shifting alliances. SSC-Khaatumo and elements of the Maakhir movement appear to be aligning with the federal government in this dispute, forming an informal coalition against Puntland’s long-standing territorial claims.

Observers warn that the standoff reflects a broader and more dangerous strategy by the Federal Government to redraw Somalia’s federal map by weakening Puntland’s territorial integrity through proxy actors. The presence of high-level federal and SSC-Khaatumo delegations in nearby districts has only deepened suspicions of an orchestrated campaign to tip local governance in favor of Villa Somalia.

Meanwhile, traditional elders from Puntland, Maakhir, and SSC-Khaatumo have yet to intervene in the escalating tensions. Their silence, many fear, could be read as tacit approval — or worse, a signal that local mediation efforts are no longer feasible.

With regional rivalries sharpening and armed factions mobilizing, Ceel-Buh has become the latest flashpoint in Somalia’s fragile federal arrangement — and a stark reminder of how quickly political maneuvering can fuel open conflict in a region already weary from decades of instability.

WardheerNews