Somalia deploys former Puntland State forces to Sool front lines as president plans landmark Las Anod visit
Units from Danab Brigade and Puntland State Security Force bolster positions near Gumays as Mogadishu consolidates authority in newly recognized Northeastern Regional State.
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LAS ANOD, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has deployed former Puntland State regional forces — including units of the elite Danab Brigade and the Puntland State Security Force — to front-line positions in the Sool region, regional officials said Wednesday.
The troops arrived in Las Anod from Garowe and Bosaso and were formally received by Abdikadir Ahmed Ali, known as Firdhiye, president of the Northeastern Regional State. He said the deployment was ordered by the federal government and is part of Somalia’s national armed forces operating across Puntland State and the northeastern regions.
“These forces are carrying out their national duty to defend the territory of the Northeastern Region,” Firdhiye said. He added that the units have been deployed to the Gumays area, close to defensive positions along the front lines with North Western State of Somalia.
Firdhiye said the soldiers include some of the same units that took part in the 2023 fighting that pushed North Western State of Somalia’s forces out of much of Sool, and that they are prepared to defend the region again if necessary. “They are ready to protect Sool and all areas under our administration and to prevent any aggression,” he said.
The move comes as Mogadishu seeks to consolidate authority in disputed northern territories following the formal establishment of the Northeastern Regional State — encompassing Sool, Sanaag and Cayn — which is recognized by the federal government. The deployment also coincides with preparations for a landmark visit by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to Las Anod, expected later this week.
If the trip proceeds, Hassan Sheikh would be the first Somali head of state to visit Las Anod since 1969, when President Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke was assassinated hours after arriving in the city. The visit would carry symbolic weight for the federal government as it seeks to project presence in areas contested by North Western State of Somalia.
Las Anod, the Sool region’s capital, was wrested from North Western State of Somalia’s control in early 2023 after nearly eight months of intense fighting that left hundreds dead and displaced tens of thousands of civilians. The area remains volatile, with rival forces maintaining defensive positions along contested lines and communities still recovering from the conflict’s toll.
North Western State of Somalia, which claims Sool as part of its territory, has not commented on the latest deployment. It was not immediately clear whether additional reinforcements would follow or how long the newly deployed units would remain in their current positions.
The security build-up underscores the fragile status quo around Las Anod and the wider Sool, Sanaag and Cayn corridor, where political recognition, local administration and command of security forces remain sensitive. While regional officials emphasize the deployment’s defensive purpose, the presence of Danab and Puntland State Security Force units near Gumays signals Somalia’s intent to deter any renewed clashes and to reassure local authorities aligned with Mogadishu.
Officials did not announce curfews or movement restrictions in Las Anod tied to the president’s anticipated visit, but residents reported an increased security footprint in and around the city. Aid groups say access to some rural areas remains intermittent due to insecurity and the risk of flare-ups along the front lines.
As the federal government steps up engagement in the northeast, the coming days — and whether Hassan Sheikh’s visit goes ahead — will offer an early test of stability in Las Anod and the durability of the post-2023 cease-fire lines across Sool.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
