Fighters affiliated with the Puntland Security Force (PSF) have withdrawn from their long-standing base in Bosaso, with Puntland security forces taking control of the facility after more than two decades of PSF presence in the port city.
Residents confirmed that the handover followed hours of negotiations aimed at preventing armed clashes in Bosaso, amid heightened tensions between Puntland and forces aligned with Somalia’s Federal Government.
The withdrawal comes a day after heavy fighting in Galkayo between Puntland forces and federal-aligned PSF units, where Puntland claimed to have seized a military base, captured senior commanders, and confiscated weapons and military equipment.
Puntland has also taken control of former PSF positions in both Galkayo and Bosaso as part of its broader security operations.
Although the withdrawal from Bosaso appears to be a strategic move to avoid further confrontation, tensions remain high as federal-aligned forces continue to maintain a presence in other parts of Puntland, including areas around Garowe, underscoring the deepening security and political rift between Garowe and Mogadishu.