Ants Scandal, Political Turmoil, and Unpaid Troops: A Tumultuous Week Raises Serious Questions in Puntland

By Ahmed A. Yusuf

Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni returned to Garowe recently after a two-week visit to the United Arab Emirates, but instead of providing answers about his trip, his arrival has triggered a cascade of questions surrounding political infighting, unpaid security forces, a bizarre ant-smuggling controversy, and the reported arrest of a man who gifted his horse to former Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

As has become increasingly common, President Deni offered no public briefing on the purpose of his frequent UAE visits, the meetings he held, or the outcomes of discussions conducted abroad. For many Puntland residents, the silence has become familiar. Over the past several years, the president has made numerous visits to the Gulf state, yet details of those trips have often remained largely undisclosed, fueling speculation and public curiosity.

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