Puntland Puts Forces on High Alert, Warns Against President Mohamud’s Planned Visit to Galkayo

GALKAYO — The Puntland administration has placed its defence forces on high alert and issued a stern warning against an upcoming visit by former Federal President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to the southern, Galmudug-controlled side of Galkayo, accusing him of plotting to destabilise the city.

In a statement from the Puntland Presidency, the regional administration alleged that President Mohamud is “still engaged in organising conflict against Puntland” and that his planned visit to Galmudug is intended to “create unrest and conflict” in Galkayo, a city that has gradually recovered from years of instability.

“The Puntland government is closely monitoring the planned activities being organised by Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and warns against the travel plan of Hassan Sheikh to the southern part of Galkayo in Galmudug State,” the statement read.

While the Federal Government has not confirmed the details of the visit, reports indicate that President Mohamud plans to travel to Dhusamareb and the Xananbuure area, where he is expected to oversee the graduation of SNA troops trained for operations against Al-Shabaab and to meet with Galmudug leadership.

Puntland has not provided evidence linking the visit to a military plot, and the Federal Government has not yet responded to the allegations.

The Puntland Cabinet has approved harsh measures against the Federal Government, including banning all non-Puntland security forces and vehicles from operating within the region’s territory and ordering security agencies to take tough legal action against anyone violating Puntland’s maritime borders. The Cabinet has also resolved to refer the names of politicians, military officers, and individuals accused of undermining the region’s security and stability to the judiciary for prosecution.

Tensions between Puntland and the Federal Government have been escalating for months, with Puntland sending additional troops to major cities and barring federal-linked troops from moving through its territory.

Puntland has previously accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of arming militias to destabilise the region and has issued formal warnings to Galmudug State, urging it not to allow its airports and territory to be used for the transit of military supplies, weapons or militias that could be used to attack or destabilise Puntland communities.

A City with a Volatile History

Galkayo has a history of conflict. Puntland and Galmudug forces fought in the city in 2015 and 2016, before a 2017 ceasefire agreement established shared security arrangements. The city has since enjoyed relative stability, but any movement of troops or weapons continues to trigger political and social alarm.

The current tensions are rooted in a broader political crisis that has pitted Puntland against the Federal Government. Puntland has consistently argued that former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term expired on May 15, 2026, a position reflected in the statement, which referred to him as a “former president.”

Puntland has also expressed gratitude to the Galmudug administration and residents of southern Galkayo for their role in preserving peace and for blocking what it described as “planned attempts” by Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to create instability in the city. The administration called on Galmudug leaders and communities to resist any further actions they view as destabilising.

The Galkayo clashes and Deni’s subsequent visit are the latest manifestation of a wider political rift between Puntland and the Federal Government, which have been at odds over constitutional changes, elections, and the distribution of political and security powers. Puntland maintains that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term expired on May 15, 2026, under the 2012 Provisional Constitution, while the Federal Government insists that Mohamud remains in office until May 2027 under constitutional amendments passed by parliament.

Deadly clashes erupted in Gaalkacyo earlier in August, with the violence following a weapons shipment that Puntland said the Federal Government had airlifted into the city’s southern sector.

Critical Note

The escalating tensions between Puntland and the Federal Government over President Mohamud’s planned visit to Galkayo highlight the fragility of Somalia’s federal arrangements and the deep mistrust between Mogadishu and Garowe. While Puntland’s concerns about security are legitimate, the lack of evidence linking the visit to a military plot risks inflaming tensions without justification. The Federal Government’s failure to communicate the purpose and scope of the visit has allowed suspicions to fester.

Both sides must exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to prevent a return to the violence that has plagued Galkayo in the past. The international community, which has invested heavily in Somalia’s stabilisation, must urgently press both parties to de-escalate and avoid actions that could trigger a wider conflict. The people of Galkayo, who have endured years of instability, deserve peace and stability, not renewed confrontation.