Somalia’s Federal-Puntland Rift Casts Shadow Over Counterterrorism Campaign

Tensions between Somalia’s Federal Government and the Puntland administration are intensifying amid concerns that political and security disputes could affect ongoing operations against Islamic State (ISIS) and Al Shabaab militants in northern Somalia.

Puntland officials have accused the Federal Government of expanding its military presence in the region at a sensitive time, as local forces continue operations against extremist groups in Bari and surrounding areas.

According to Puntland authorities and political figures aligned with the regional administration, recent troop recruitment and deployments linked to the Federal Government have been viewed locally as an attempt to reshape security arrangements inside Puntland. Federal authorities have not publicly characterised the deployments in those terms.

The disagreement comes as Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud appointed Jimale Jama as commander of the Somali National Army’s 54th Division, based in Garowe. The appointment has drawn criticism from Puntland-aligned figures, who argue that the move introduces additional political friction into an already tense relationship between Mogadishu and Puntland’s leadership under President Said Abdullahi Deni.