Friday August 7, 2026
Galkacyo (AX) — Former Puntland State security personnel who later aligned themselves with Somalia’s federal government have pulled out of military camps north of Galkayo, amid escalating tensions with Puntland State authorities, sources familiar with the situation said.
The troops abandoned their positions on Thursday and moved toward the Galgadud region after receiving information that Puntland State forces could launch an operation against them if they remained in territory administered by the regional government.
Traditional elders met with the officers before the departure to discuss whether the troops should return to Puntland State’s security institutions or move to areas controlled by the Federal Government of Somalia.
The forces are expected to report to camps run by the elite Danab Special Forces in Galgadud, according to the sources. It remains uncertain whether they will eventually be sent back to Galkayo or transferred elsewhere.
The withdrawal came a day after Puntland State seized the headquarters of the Puntland State Security Force (PSF) in Galkayo following intense fighting that caused casualties and effectively ended the force’s operations in the city. Puntland State troops took control of the facility, detained dozens of personnel and confiscated weapons and other military equipment.
After the operation, Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni instructed all armed units in the region linked to the federal government to hand over their weapons and military facilities to Puntland State authorities or face legal proceedings.
The order has further sharpened tensions across Puntland State, while security alerts have reportedly increased around facilities occupied by forces affiliated with the federal government.
The departure of the former Puntland State troops lowers the immediate prospect of renewed fighting in Galkayo, but the wider political and security dispute between Puntland State and the federal government remains unresolved.
