Puntland Leader Deni Arrives in Galkayo to Cement Security Control After Clashes

GALKAYO — After a midnight road travel, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has arrived in the strategic city of Galkayo for meetings with community leaders, security officials, and local administrators, as his administration moves to consolidate control over security institutions following days of intense clashes with federal-aligned forces. Denis is also expected to launch development projects while he is in Galkayo.

Deni travelled overnight from Garowe, Puntland’s administrative capital, to Galkayo on Saturday, August 8, 2026, underscoring the regional administration’s ability to move senior officials between cities despite persistent security challenges elsewhere in Somalia. During his visit, he is expected to review the administrative situation in the Mudug region and assess ongoing development projects, according to officials familiar with the trip.

The visit comes just two days after heavy fighting in Galkayo between Puntland forces and armed units aligned with the Federal Government of Somalia. The clashes, which erupted on Wednesday, August 5, centred on control of a military camp near the airport in northern Galkayo, which had been occupied by troops formerly aligned with Puntland but whose commanders recently pledged allegiance to Mogadishu. Puntland forces attacked the camp, seized control, and arrested more than 100 individuals.

In a press conference following the operation, President Deni described the assault as a “planned security operation” aimed at sending a “clear message to anyone working against the Puntland government.” He alleged that the Federal Government had been transporting weapons, military equipment, and troops to the area in an attempt to undermine Puntland’s security and stability. Deni did not provide evidence for the allegations, and the Federal Government has not issued an official response.

Galkayo residents reported hearing mortar rounds, some landing in residential areas, during the clashes, which lasted for more than an hour. Following the operation, Puntland forces seized weapons, vehicles, and military equipment, including firearms, ammunition, police uniforms, and other supplies.

Federal-Aligned Forces Withdraw from Galkayo

Following the Puntland operation, former Puntland security forces who had joined the Federal Government withdrew from military camps north of Galkayo on Thursday, August 6, heading toward the Galgadud region. Traditional elders reportedly held talks with the officers before the withdrawal, discussing whether the forces should reintegrate into Puntland’s security institutions or relocate to areas under federal control. Sources indicated that the troops are expected to join camps operated by the elite Danab Special Forces in Galgadud.

Puntland had previously issued a formal warning to Galmudug State, accusing the Federal Government of orchestrating military movements intended to destabilise the region and undermine Puntland’s governance structures. The warning came after Puntland’s Deputy Security Minister alleged that the Federal Government had smuggled weapons into Galkayo.

Escalating Federal-State Tensions

The Galkayo clashes and Deni’s subsequent visit are the latest manifestation of a wider political rift between Puntland and the Federal Government, which have been at odds over constitutional changes, elections, and the distribution of political and security powers. Puntland maintains that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term expired on May 15, 2026, under the 2012 Provisional Constitution, while the Federal Government insists that Mohamud remains in office until May 2027 under constitutional amendments passed by parliament.

The developments in Galkayo followed a separate incident in Bosaso, Puntland’s main commercial port, where Puntland forces recently took control of the former Puntland Security Force (PSF) headquarters from federal-backed militia. The PSF, which was once a US-backed counter-terrorism unit, had been at the centre of a political and security confrontation between President Deni and forces seen as sympathetic to the Federal Government.

Puntland insisted that the PSF does not legally form part of its defence structure, rejecting any federally registered military units operating inside its territory without authorisation.

Critical Note

President Deni’s visit to Galkayo reflects Puntland’s determination to assert its authority over security institutions in contested areas, but the underlying political crisis between Garowe and Mogadishu remains unresolved. The withdrawal of federal-aligned forces, while reducing the immediate risk of further confrontation in Galkayo, does not address the broader issues that have fuelled the conflict. The dispute over the president’s mandate, constitutional reforms, and the distribution of military authority has created a governance vacuum that neither side seems willing to fill through dialogue. The international community, which has largely remained silent on the growing rift, must urgently press both parties to return to negotiations and avoid further escalation, if the two leaders remain in this impasse. The people of Galkayo, who have long coexisted across the Puntland-Galmudug divide, deserve more than a temporary ceasefire. They need a durable political settlement that respects the federal framework while addressing legitimate regional concerns. Without such a resolution, the cycle of confrontation and recrimination is likely to continue, with civilian populations bearing the heaviest burden.