Puntland has for the first time spoken about the troops and two military-type vehicles seized in Galkayo city, which were reportedly heading to one of the Federal Government of Somalia’s military bases located in Galmudug areas.
Acting President of Puntland and Vice President of Puntland, Ilyaas Osman Lugatoor, said the detained forces numbered 134 soldiers, of whom he said five were from Puntland areas, while the rest were from areas belonging to Galmudug.
“This morning, at the time of the Fajr prayer, forces sent to destabilize Puntland were seized in Galkayo.
They are now being held at the Galkayo base, and only five of them are from Puntland,” said Ilyaas Osman Lugatoor.
Separately, the Commander of Puntland Police Forces for Mudug region, Colonel Mahmoud Muse Bile, confirmed that the troops and the two vehicles were seized in Galkayo, saying an investigation is underway.
“This morning, the Mudug Regional Police Command took into custody two vehicles of the type known as ‘B.G’ and the troops aboard those vehicles, totaling 130 soldiers and officers combined,” the commander said.
According to the commander, the vehicles are reported to belong to the Federal Government of Somalia, and were seized after entering Puntland’s border and territory.
In recent hours, meetings were held in Galkayo city between officials from Puntland and Galmudug, discussing the situation of the detained forces and vehicles.
Reports from the meetings indicate that Puntland told the Galmudug side it would release the young men and soldiers who were detained, but would not release the two vehicles the forces were traveling in, which are said to belong to the Federal Government of Somalia.
This comes at a time when political and security disagreements still persist between Puntland and the Federal Government of Somalia, particularly regarding matters related to the armed forces, the administration of central regions, and the Federal Government’s authority over areas administered by the federal member states.