Garowe (Sahan Post):- Troops reportedly backed by Somalia’s Federal Government held a military parade on the outskirts of Garowe, in a show of strength that comes amid growing political and security tensions between Mogadishu and the Puntland administration.
The forces, led by Jimcaale Jamaac Takar, identified as members of the Danab Brigade, conducted the parade at the Ligle military base, south of the Puntland capital. According to local observers, the event was attended by senior officers said to be linked to federal security institutions.
The parade coincides with heightened rhetoric between the Federal Government and Puntland officials. Earlier this week, Somalia’s Minister of Defense Ahmed Moalim Fiqi told the Upper House that the government had recruited and integrated troops from within Puntland into the national army, a claim first reported by SahanPost on October.
However, Senator Abdirahman Faroole, representing Garowe, told the Senate that he was unaware of any such recruitment process, while Puntland’s Minister of Information Dirir Aydiid publicly denied that any federal forces were operating in Puntland territory.
“There are no federal troops in Puntland. These are baseless claims intended to politicize security matters,” Minister Aydiid said in a statement carried by local media on Thursday.
Despite the denials, SahanPost investigations confirm that between 2,000 and 2,500 soldiers based in parts of Puntland are currently on the Federal Government payroll, citing official payment lists reviewed by this outlet.
Security sources also revealed that several of those troops were formerly members of the Puntland Security Forces (PSF), a unit once led by current Somali Police Commissioner Asad Osman. A PSF member who spoke on condition of anonymity said they had been receiving federal salaries for nearly two years.
The Federal Government has previously acknowledged paying stipends to regional security forces as part of the National Security Architecture agreement, but Puntland authorities argue that the arrangement has been politicized and used to undermine their autonomy.
Tensions between Mogadishu and Garowe have worsened in recent months, with Puntland accusing the Federal Government of withholding development funds and regional budget allocations. Officials in Garowe say the financial squeeze has crippled local services and deepened mistrust between the two levels of government.
The Danab and PSF units, both of which now receive federal support, have a history of violent confrontations against Puntland Darawish Forces. In 2021 and 2022, clashes between the forces in Bosaso and Garowe against Puntland Forces left dozens dead and displaced hundreds of civilians, according to reports by Amnesty International and UNSOM.
Security analysts warn that the latest military parade may signal renewed friction. “It’s a political message as much as a military one,” said a former Somali defense official based in Mogadishu. “Both sides are testing each other’s influence in Puntland.”
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports suggest that federal-paid troops have also been present in Dhahar and Damala Xagarein the Sanaag region.
Laascaanood, areas where Mogadishu has expanded its military stipend program for the last two years, according to sources within Somalia’s Ministry of Defense.
Puntland and the Federal Government have struggled to maintain cooperation since early 2022, with relations deteriorating further after President Said Abdullahi Deni accused Mogadishu of undermining federalism and centralizing power.
The Garowe parade, the latest in a series of symbolic displays by federal-backed forces, underscores how fragile the political compact between Somalia’s federal and regional governments has become.
Sahan News Desk
info@sahanpost.com
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