Garowe (KAAB TV) – The Puntland regional government has initiated an internal investigation targeting several security officers and soldiers suspected of maintaining close connections with the Federal Government of Somalia, according to senior security sources who spoke to Hiiraan Online (HOL) on condition of anonymity.
Officials familiar with the matter revealed that President Said Abdullahi Deni has directed his administration to review the status of officers believed to be coordinating with Mogadishu-based federal institutions.
According to the sources, the president is considering suspending the salaries, benefits, and operational privileges of those deemed to be more loyal to the federal government than to Puntland’s leadership.
The move follows growing concern within Puntland’s security apparatus that federal authorities have been attempting to extend their influence into the region’s police and military structures.
Some officers are accused of facilitating coordination between local police units and the Somali Police Force headquarters in Mogadishu, led by General Asad Osman Abdullahi.
Reports suggest that communication and directives have been exchanged regarding certain police deployments within Puntland’s major cities.
Unconfirmed reports also indicate that earlier this week, President Deni ordered the Puntland Ministry of Finance to halt payments and service fees to at least one senior officer alleged to have assisted the Federal Government in recruiting troops in Garowe, the regional capital.
During a recent public address, President Deni emphasized the importance of loyalty within the Puntland security forces.
Speaking to hundreds of newly recruited police officers, he stated that Puntland “needs troops who are fully committed to defending the interests and sovereignty of their own administration.”
The recruits are part of a new police unit expected to be deployed to reinforce security across Puntland’s urban centers.
The unfolding investigation comes shortly after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud publicly claimed that federal forces are present and operational within Puntland.
His remarks have reignited tensions between the federal government and the semi-autonomous region, which has often accused Mogadishu of encroaching on its administrative autonomy.
Puntland, established in 1998 as a self-governing region in northeastern Somalia, has long maintained a cooperative but cautious relationship with the central government.
While it recognizes the Federal Government of Somalia, it insists on maintaining control over its local security institutions and political processes.
Political analysts view the latest developments as part of a broader struggle for influence between Garowe and Mogadishu, as the federal system continues to evolve and regional leaders assert greater autonomy ahead of future national elections.