GAROWE (Kaab TV) – A Puntland Darawiish military officer, Abdirahman Abdirizak Wayrah, has reportedly been detained in Garowe after publicly criticizing the Puntland administration over unpaid salaries, poor healthcare, and deteriorating living conditions facing members of the regional security forces.
Major Wayrah was arrested days after giving media interviews in which he described serious hardships affecting Puntland Darawiish troops stationed at the 54th Military Camp in Garowe.
Before his arrest, Major Abdirahman Abdirizak Wayrah told the media that Puntland Darawiish forces stationed at the 54th Military Camp in Garowe were facing severe hardships, including unpaid salaries, poor living conditions, and lack of access to proper healthcare.
“Some of our soldiers and officers have not received salaries for up to 24 months. The situation facing the Puntland Darawiish forces is extremely difficult, and many troops are suffering from poor living conditions and lack of healthcare,” Major Abdirahman Abdirizak Wayrah reportedly told the media.
He claimed that some soldiers had gone as long as 24 months without receiving salaries, which he said had badly affected the welfare and morale of the troops.
The officer also alleged that several Darawiish personnel recently died in Garowe after being unable to afford medical treatment. According to his claims, some officers were reportedly removed from hospitals because they could not pay healthcare costs, highlighting what he described as a growing humanitarian and financial crisis within sections of Puntland’s security forces.
Major Wayrah said the situation had created serious suffering among Puntland security personnel and called attention to what he described as neglect of the forces by the authorities.
Family members told local media that Major Wayrah was summoned yesterday afternoon to the command headquarters of the 54th Camp. Upon arrival, he was allegedly informed that he was under arrest and was later transferred to a detention facility located inside the military base.
Sources close to the detained officer further claimed that the arrest order came from the Puntland presidency, although Puntland authorities and security agencies have not officially commented on the allegations or the reasons behind his detention.
The case has triggered debate across Puntland, where complaints over delayed salaries and poor conditions within parts of the security sector have become increasingly common in recent years.
Members of Puntland’s military and police forces have repeatedly raised concerns about irregular payments, lack of welfare support, and inadequate medical services, particularly for frontline troops involved in security operations against militant groups and criminal networks.
Puntland security forces, especially the Darawiish units, play a major role in maintaining regional security and conducting operations against ISIS militants and armed groups operating in the mountainous regions of Bari and other parts of Puntland. However, analysts say prolonged financial difficulties and poor troop welfare could undermine morale and operational effectiveness within the forces.
Human rights observers and opposition figures have also expressed concern over the detention of military personnel for speaking publicly about internal grievances, warning that suppressing criticism could deepen frustrations within the security institutions.
The arrest comes at a politically sensitive time for Puntland, as the regional administration faces growing public pressure over governance, economic challenges, and security-related issues across the state.