Presidential Adviser Urges Deni to Abandon UAE as Puntland and Mogadishu Exchange Accusations

MOGADISHU – Prominent Somali cleric and presidential adviser Sheikh Cali Maxamuud Xasan (Wajiis) has launched a blistering attack on Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, urging him to abandon his alliance with the United Arab Emirates and warning that the UAE’s regional influence is collapsing.

In an interview, Sheikh Wajiis directly addressed Deni, saying: “My brother Said Deni, I say to him: let him perish in the UAE, whose influence has faded, which has been expelled from Sudan, expelled from Libya, expelled from Yemen, expelled from Syria, and will be expelled from Somalia as well.”

A Pattern of UAE Influence

Sheikh Wajiis’s comments reflect a long-running concern over the UAE’s footprint in Puntland. Deni is widely seen as being closely aligned with the UAE, largely due to financial assistance that could bolster his political ambitions, with some reports suggesting Deni secretly received $20 million from the UAE in exchange for undisclosed exploration rights. Deni has previously expressed his willingness to remain in Mogadishu to pursue his goals until the current president’s term expires, underscoring his determination to advance his political agenda.

The UAE’s role in Puntland extends beyond financial support. The UAE has been supporting some of Puntland’s security forces by providing financial assistance, military training, and necessary equipment, and has joined counter-ISIS operations in the Calmiskaad Mountains. Deni’s alignment with the UAE is partly motivated by his desire to secure support for Somalia’s presidential elections.

The Sheikh Wajiis-Deni Feud

Sheikh Wajiis and President Deni have a history of public sparring. In April 2026, Deni specifically pointed to comments allegedly made by Sheikh Wajiis, which he claimed advocate for direct federal administration over Somalia’s regions. “The rhetoric from Ali Wajiis, which I suspect mirrors President Hassan Sheikh’s own stance, suggests placing Puntland’s territories under direct, region-by-region federal authority,” Deni stated at the time.

Sheikh Wajiis has also been a vocal critic of foreign interference in Somalia’s internal affairs. In 2025, he harshly criticized the ambassadors of the United Kingdom and the United States, accusing them of behaving more like clan elders than official diplomatic representatives. He has also alleged that foreign powers are covertly backing Al-Shabaab’s military campaign along Somalia’s central coastlines.

Military Tensions and Federal Overreach Accusations

The cleric’s comments come amid escalating military tensions between Puntland and the federal government. Puntland has accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of orchestrating military movements aimed at destabilizing the northeastern state, warning neighboring Galmudug against allowing its territory and airports to be used to move troops and armed groups.

On July 25, 2026, Puntland issued a formal statement accusing the federal government of organizing and registering troops in areas under Puntland control, alleging that the objective of the military activity was to “incite conflict” and undermine its system of government. Puntland has also called on the international community to take note of the situation.

Puntland has ordered its forces to be on alert over federal intervention fears, reflecting the deepening mistrust between Garowe and Mogadishu. Puntland has also accused the Federal Government of undermining the federal system, with Deni delivering sharp critiques of Mogadishu’s alleged centralization efforts.

Constitutional Crisis and the PSF Dispute

The tensions are rooted in a broader constitutional crisis. Puntland has expressed concern that Somalia is experiencing a constitutional vacuum, arguing that the Federal Parliament’s constitutional mandate expired on April 14, 2026, and the presidential term concludes on May 15, 2026. Puntland has called upon President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to organize an urgent conference to establish mutual agreement on elections.

A central point of contention is the status of the Puntland Security Force (PSF). Puntland has declared that there is no force known as “PSF” that legally forms part of the Puntland Defense Forces, and that no forces registered under the Federal Government are authorized to conduct military operations inside Puntland’s territory.

Way Forward

Sheikh Wajiis’s intervention adds a powerful religious voice to the growing chorus of criticism against Deni’s UAE alignment. His warning that the UAE’s influence in Somalia is waning echoes a broader sentiment among those who view the Emirati presence as a destabilizing force.

For Deni, the challenge is to navigate between his UAE allies and the federal government in Mogadishu, while managing a security crisis that threatens to spiral out of control. For the federal government, the challenge is to address Puntland’s legitimate concerns about federal overreach while asserting its authority over the region.

The gap between the two sides remains wide, and the risk of military confrontation is real. Sheikh Wajiis’s call for dialogue, while welcome, is unlikely to resolve the deep-seated political and constitutional disputes that have brought Somalia to the brink of another crisis.