Somaliland has accused Puntland authorities of collaborating with terrorist groups and pirates to destabilize its territory.
Ahmed Yasin Sheikh Ali Stanley, Somaliland’s Minister of Information, made these accusations.
He was responding to a similar accusations by Puntland officials saying that the Somaliland leadership runs close relations with terrorist groups.
Somaliland and Puntland have a long history of making such accusations and counter-accusations against each other.
In November 2023, the Somaliland government condemned attacks on civilians in Buqdharkeyn, attributing them to a coalition involving Puntland and terrorist entities, labeling the actions as violations of international law.
In July 2023, Somaliland’s Ministry of Defense alleged that the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), trained by the United Arab Emirates to combat terrorism and piracy, had instead joined forces with Al-Shabaab, clan militias, and Somali soldiers trained in Eritrea to launch attacks against Somaliland forces in Las Anod.
Furthermore, in September 2023, Somaliland expressed concerns about the influx of terrorist groups into Las Anod and Buhoodle, claiming these groups originated from areas like the Golis mountains in Puntland.
The government highlighted the role of Abdi Madobe, identified as an Al-Shabaab representative in the region, in recruiting and training individuals in extremist ideologies.
These allegations have intensified the longstanding dispute between Somaliland and Puntland over the Sool and Sanaag regions, leading to military buildups and confrontations.
It’s important to note that Puntland has previously accused Somaliland of similar collaborations.
In March 2025, Puntland officials alleged that Somaliland was aiding terrorist groups, claims which Somaliland dismissed as “baseless and desperate accusations” lacking merit.
These mutual accusations underscore the complex security dynamics in the Horn of Africa, where local disputes are often intertwined with broader regional conflicts involving extremist groups.