Carmo Forces Reject Puntland Authority, Vow Loyalty to Federal Government Only

BOOSASO — Federal Government-aligned forces have withdrawn from a military base in the Carmo district of the Bari region, relocating to Xumbays in the Karkaar region, and have declared that they do not recognize the authority of the Puntland administration, deepening the security crisis in the region.

The troops, who recently aligned themselves with the Federal Government of Somalia, left the Carmo base on Friday night, August 7, 2026, and moved to Xumbays, still within Puntland’s territory. A commander leading the forces stated that they belong to the Federal Government and do not recognize any other administration in Somalia.

“Our forces are part of the Federal Government of Somalia. We do not recognize any other government or authority except the central government,” the commander said in a statement.

Hours later, the Puntland Police Command announced that it had formally taken control of the vacated Carmo base. “Puntland State has today formally taken control of a military command in Carmo, which had been occupied by armed militias involved in activities that destabilized security and stability in Puntland’s territories,” the statement read.

Puntland has previously accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of arming militias to destabilise the region, warning that the Federal Government was seeking to create instability and undermine Puntland’s authority.

Escalating Federal-State Military Tensions

The Carmo standoff is the latest in a series of confrontations between Puntland and the Federal Government over control of security forces and military installations within Puntland’s territory. Puntland has consistently maintained that no armed forces outside its official security apparatus are permitted to operate within its borders. In recent weeks, Puntland has intensified pressure on federal-aligned units, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum for them to surrender to Puntland’s security agencies.

On August 5, Puntland forces seized a military camp in northern Gaalkacyo, and on August 6, they took control of a former Puntland Security Force (PSF) headquarters in Bosaso. The PSF, whose officers have publicly affirmed their allegiance to the Somali National Army, has been at the center of the dispute. A PSF official stated that the force is a federal unit that reports to the Somali National Army, not Puntland.

Meanwhile, the Puntland Cabinet on August 6 ordered security agencies to halt the movement of armed forces and vehicles not formally part of its security structure, and to refer politicians, officers, and individuals accused of undermining Puntland’s security and institutions to the judiciary.

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.

A Deepening Political and Constitutional Crisis

The security confrontation is rooted in a broader political dispute that has festered since March 2024, when Puntland withdrew its recognition of federal institutions following constitutional amendments passed by the Somali parliament. Puntland has since asserted that it will operate autonomously until a consensus-based federal constitution is agreed upon.

Federal leaders have insisted on the right to recruit national troops from all regions. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre stated in early July that the Federal Government planned to recruit thousands of soldiers from Puntland, a move Puntland has rejected as a violation of its autonomy.

The relocation of federal-aligned troops to Xumbays, which remains within Puntland’s borders, has effectively defied the regional ultimatum, setting the stage for a potential confrontation.

President Deni has accused President Mohamud of breaking the country apart and warned that policies backed by allies of the president threaten to fracture Somalia regionally.

Puntland has barred federal-linked troops from moving through its territory and accused Mogadishu of seeking to use federal forces to weaken security inside the region.

Critical Note

The standoff over the Carmo base reflects the dangerous trajectory of Somalia’s federal-state tensions, where the dispute over military authority has moved from political rhetoric to direct military confrontation. Puntland’s forceful takeover of bases and its ultimatums to federal-aligned forces, combined with the Federal Government’s insistence on its authority to deploy national troops, have created a volatile situation that could spiral into wider conflict. The federal government’s failure to establish a clear, legally grounded framework for the command and control of federal forces in regional states has left the relationship between Mogadishu and Garowe dangerously ambiguous. The international community, which has invested heavily in Somalia’s stabilization, must urgently press both sides to de-escalate and return to negotiations before the crisis further fragments the country’s security institutions and leaves the population vulnerable to renewed instability.