MOGADISHU – Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has launched a sharp verbal attack on Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, defending the federal government’s right to deploy troops and recruit soldiers anywhere in the country, amid escalating tensions over the presence of federal forces in the northeastern state.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the opening of a new building for the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, the Prime Minister dismissed allegations from Puntland that the federal government is interfering in regional affairs. He argued that the federal government has a constitutional obligation to operate across the entire territory of Somalia.
The Puntland government has announced that it will not allow troops associated with the Federal Government of Somalia to be stationed in or move through Puntland territory, a move that has intensified the standoff between Mogadishu and Garowe.
‘We Are Not Interfering, We Are Fulfilling Our Duties’
Prime Minister Barre questioned the logic of denying the federal government access to its own territory. “There are some people who are not Somaliland but have grievances, who have aligned themselves with a government that has supposedly invaded and is interfering with us. Who governs this country? If the government cannot go everywhere, then what?” he said.
He added: “Since when did the Somali government providing services to its people, employing a Somali citizen, or visiting become interference? Was it not a duty that was being fulfilled before, or is it only now considered interference?”
Tensions have further escalated following reports that federal funds were distributed directly to troops deployed within Puntland, with Puntland officials alleging that the payments are intended to bypass the regional command structure.
Criticism of Opposition Leaders
The Prime Minister also took aim at opposition leaders, including President Deni, accusing them of prioritising personal ambitions over the national interest. “I speak to the Somali people. I have said before to a politician whose lust for power has consumed his mind—I will not speak to him. The seat is too heavy; sometimes it misleads people from the right path,” Barre said.
President Deni has previously accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of creating armed pirate groups, dismantling the federal system, and destabilising regional administrations, describing the federal government’s actions as a “political and legal hijacking” of the country’s agreed constitutional framework.
Federal Government’s Stance on Elections
Barre also addressed the broader political deadlock, stating that the opposition is opposed to holding elections and providing opportunities to the Somali people. His comments come amid growing disagreements between the federal government and the opposition Future Council over the electoral model and the political transition.
High-level negotiations between the government and the opposition have collapsed without a resolution, revealing deep, ongoing disagreements regarding the nation’s electoral trajectory. The primary source of conflict centers on the proposed electoral models, with the federal administration maintaining support for a nationwide one-person, one-vote system while the Future Council endorses an alternative, indirect electoral approach.
Way Forward
The escalating war of words between Mogadishu and Garowe reflects the deepening rift between the federal government and Puntland, which has been a persistent challenge to Somalia’s federal stability. As both sides remain entrenched in their positions, the risk of further political and security deterioration looms large, with traditional elders and international partners calling for dialogue to avert a broader crisis.
