GAROWE — The Puntland administration has issued a strong accusation against the Federal Government of Somalia, alleging that Villa Somalia is utilizing substantial resources to destabilize the region during the final months of the current administration’s term.
Speaking at a gathering in Garowe, Puntland Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor urged state leadership and citizens to exercise heightened vigilance.
Strategic Realignment
In a significant policy statement, Vice President Lugatoor declared that the state’s security focus is shifting. He noted that while the administration concentrated on the conflict against ISIS (Daesh) in the previous year, the priority for the current year will move toward “defense” against political interference.
“Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who has roughly one hundred and ten days remaining in his term, is engaged in destructive activities,” VP Lugatoor stated. “Consequently, we must defend ourselves… This year, we will concentrate intensely on defense.”
The Vice President’s comments follow recent visits to Garowe and Bosaso by politicians aligned with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, maneuvers which Puntland officials view as politically motivated provocations.
Dispute Over Federal Troops
Tensions have further escalated following reports that federal funds were distributed directly to specific troops deployed within Puntland. These units were historically part of the Puntland military but were subsequently integrated into the Somali National Army (SNA).
Puntland’s Presidential Security Advisor, Abdi Hirsi Ali “Qarjab”, disclosed that there are currently 1,376 soldiers stationed within the state whose salaries are financed directly by the federal government.
State officials allege that the purpose of these payments is to bypass Puntland’s command structure, creating a force that undermines the state’s security autonomy. The administration has characterized these financial maneuvers as an attempt to secure the loyalty of local forces against the state government, signaling a deepening rift between the federal member state and Mogadishu.
