Puntland State forces clear Bosaso–Qardho highway after soldiers’ pay protest; at least one wounded
BOSASO, Somalia — Puntland State security forces on Saturday dispersed soldiers protesting unpaid wages and reopened a key highway linking Bosaso and Qardho, ending a blockade that had halted traffic and stranded motorists for nearly a day. At least one protester was injured in a brief confrontation, authorities and preliminary reports said.
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The soldiers had sealed off the strategic route on Friday, choking movement on one of northeastern Somalia’s most important corridors for goods and passengers. Security units moved in early Saturday after talks collapsed, swiftly clearing the road and allowing traffic to resume, officials said. It was not immediately clear whether there were additional injuries.
- The Bosaso–Qardho highway was blocked from Friday until Saturday morning.
- Security forces used force to disperse protesting soldiers; at least one was wounded.
- Traffic resumed shortly after the route was cleared.
- Authorities say the protesters include clan-based fighters who previously fought ISIS in the Calmiskaad mountains.
Saturday’s operation is the first known instance of Puntland State forces using force to remove fellow security personnel from a highway protest, underscoring escalating tensions inside the region’s security apparatus as pay delays and budget pressures mount.
Regional officials have described the protesting soldiers as clan-based fighters who took part in counterterrorism operations against ISIS militants in the rugged Calmiskaad range. Those fighters were slated for formal training and integration into Puntland State’s security forces, officials said, but they refused to join the program, prompting the standoff that spilled onto the highway.
The episode highlights the financial and organizational strains facing Puntland State authorities as they try to maintain pressure on extremist groups while managing payroll backlogs. In recent months, groups of soldiers have repeatedly blocked major roads in the region to demand overdue salaries, signaling a pattern of public dissent within the ranks.
The Bosaso–Qardho highway carries particular strategic weight. Bosaso is Puntland State’s commercial hub and a vital port city on the Gulf of Aden, while Qardho serves as a key inland junction. Disruptions along this stretch ripple quickly through markets, supply chains, and passenger travel across the region.
Saturday’s clearing operation unfolded after overnight negotiations failed to convince the blockading soldiers to stand down. Security units then moved to reopen the road, an action that resulted in at least one injury among the protesters, according to preliminary accounts. Authorities did not provide details on the size of the group or the specific units involved.
While the road is now open and movement has resumed, the confrontation laid bare deeper fault lines: delayed pay, disputed command structures, and the challenge of integrating irregular fighters who have been mobilized for specific counterinsurgency campaigns. Without a durable fix to those issues, officials and residents fear the risk of renewed blockades and further strain on public security operations.
Saturday’s incident also reflects the tight balancing act for Puntland State’s leadership. As authorities continue counterterrorism missions — especially in remote mountain terrain where ISIS cells have sought refuge — they face the competing imperative of stabilizing payroll and formalizing command, training, and logistics. The longer financial uncertainty lingers, the more likely discipline and cohesion across units will fray.
By day’s end, vehicles were again flowing on the Bosaso–Qardho road. But the brief shutdown — and the use of force to end it — signaled a shift in how Puntland State intends to handle future disruptions by armed personnel, and a reminder that the security sector’s internal pressures are now spilling onto the region’s busiest roads.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
