Deadly Clashes Erupt in Gaalkacyo as Puntland and Federal Forces Exchange Fire

GAALKACYO — Heavy fighting erupted in the northeastern part of Gaalkacyo on Wednesday morning, August 5, 2026, pitting Puntland forces against the Puntland Security Force (PSF), a federally-aligned unit, in the latest escalation of tensions between Mogadishu and Garowe that threatens to plunge the strategic city into all-out conflict.

The clashes began after Puntland forces attacked PSF positions in eastern Gaalkacyo, triggering intense exchanges of heavy weaponry, including mortars that reportedly landed in residential areas, causing casualties and widespread panic among civilians. Residents have begun fleeing their homes as the fighting spreads to new parts of the city, with both sides reportedly receiving reinforcements.

The violence follows Tuesday’s arrival of a weapons shipment that Puntland said the Federal Government had airlifted into Gaalkacyo’s southern, Galmudug-controlled sector. Puntland has previously accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of arming militias to destabilise the region, warning Galmudug not to allow its airports and territory to be used for the transit of military supplies intended to harm Puntland’s communities.

Puntland Condemns Federal Government Over Weapons Shipment

In a strongly worded statement issued from Garowe on Tuesday, the Puntland administration condemned what it described as the Federal Government’s “illegal” deployment of troops and weapons into areas under Puntland’s jurisdiction. The statement said the weapons were airlifted into the Galmudug-controlled side of Gaalkacyo with the intention of being transferred into Puntland territory, but were intercepted by Galmudug security forces and local residents, sparking a confrontation that resulted in casualties.

“The Puntland government condemns the term-expired Federal Government of Somalia, which is deploying troops and weapons into the territories of Puntland,” the statement read. “Today, August 4, 2026, the FGS again airlifted weapons into Gaalkacyo city, specifically to the Galmudug side, intended to be transferred to Puntland, but were stopped by the security agencies and the people of Galmudug, resulting in a confrontation that caused casualties.”

Puntland praised Galmudug and its citizens for preventing the weapons from crossing into its territory, accusing the Federal Government of seeking to create instability in the Mudug region.

“Puntland and Galmudug share a long history of good neighbourliness, communal coexistence and administrative cooperation,” the statement continued. “The protection of security and stability in the territories of both administrations is a shared responsibility.”

Future Council Accuses President of Provocation

The Somali Future Council (Golaha Mustaqbalka Soomaaliyeed), a coalition of opposition politicians, also issued a statement condemning the weapons deployment and accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of creating a new conflict in Gaalkacyo. The council warned that the situation could destabilise the entire region and undo years of peace-building efforts.

“The Somali Future Council strongly condemns the weapons and troops that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is deploying to Gaalkacyo,” the council said in a statement. “Gaalkacyo does not need conflict. It is unfortunate that at a time when the city is regaining its stability, military movements that could lead to new clashes are being carried out.”

The council described the president’s actions as “irresponsible” and driven by “misguided ambitions” to fuel new conflicts. It called on the Galmudug and Puntland administrations, traditional elders, religious leaders, intellectuals and civil society organisations to work together to defuse the situation.

“We call on all segments of society to collectively prevent the conflict that President Hassan Sheikh is stoking in Gaalkacyo,” the council said.

Gaalkacyo: A City at the Crossroads

Gaalkacyo, the administrative capital of the Mudug region, is divided between Puntland in the north and Galmudug in the south, with the two administrations sharing responsibility for security and governance. The city has witnessed cycles of deadly conflict between clan militias from both sides over the decades, but recent peace agreements and security cooperation had significantly reduced hostilities in recent years.

Tensions between Puntland and the Federal Government have been escalating for months, with Puntland sending additional troops to major cities and bolstering security at checkpoints outside Bosaso, Garowe, and Gaalkacyo. Puntland has barred federal-linked troops from moving through its territory and accused Mogadishu of seeking to use federal forces to weaken security inside the region.

The PSF, which was once a US-backed counter-terrorism unit, has been at odds with President Deni’s administration since late 2021, when the president attempted to dismiss its then-commander. Puntland has consistently maintained that the PSF does not legally form part of its defence structure and has rejected any federally registered military units operating inside its territory without authorisation.

The current crisis also comes against the backdrop of a broader political rift over President Mohamud’s mandate. Puntland maintains that the president’s term expired on May 15, 2026, under the 2012 Provisional Constitution, a claim the federal government rejects.

President Deni has accused the federal government of attempting to dismantle the federal system and warned that policies backed by allies of President Mohamud threaten to fracture Somalia regionally.

Critical Note

The escalating military confrontation in Gaalkacyo represents a dangerous turning point in the long-running political rift between Mogadishu and Garowe. The deployment of weapons and troops into a divided city that has only recently emerged from years of deadly conflict risks undoing fragile peace agreements and reigniting clan-based violence that could spread across the Mudug region. While Puntland’s accusations of federal interference and the Future Council’s condemnation of the president’s actions raise legitimate concerns about the Federal Government’s respect for regional autonomy, both sides bear responsibility for de-escalating the situation. The government in Mogadishu has failed to provide a transparent account of the purpose and destination of the weapons shipment, while Puntland’s unilateral military response risks provoking a wider confrontation. The international community, which has invested heavily in Somalia’s stabilisation, must urgently press both sides to cease hostilities and return to dialogue, lest the hard-won gains of recent years be consumed by a new cycle of conflict that the country can ill afford.