Garowe (Kaab TV) — Puntland authorities have ordered military officers who defected to Somalia’s federal government to immediately return all weapons and military assets, warning that failure to comply could have serious security repercussions.
The order was issued by Puntland Police Commander Gen. Mumin Abdi Shire, who accused the officers of unlawfully retaining weapons, vehicles, and military bases belonging to the Puntland regional administration.
He emphasized that the equipment is state property and must be returned without delay.
“No one is above the law,” Gen. Mumin said. “Officers who have involved themselves in political matters must return government assets and military bases. If this does not happen, the consequences could be dangerous for security.”
The officers are currently based in Las Anod, the administrative capital of Somalia’s Northeastern Regional State, where former Puntland units—including elements of the Danab Brigade and the Puntland Security Force (PSF)—have aligned with federal forces and are providing security for senior officials.
The dispute comes amid a rapid realignment of armed groups following the establishment of the Northeastern Regional State, which is recognized by the federal government and encompasses the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn regions.
Las Anod has emerged as a focal point of competing political claims and shifting loyalties since Somaliland forces withdrew from the city last year.
Earlier this week, Danab Brigade commander Gen. Jimcaale Jamaac Takar said in Las Anod that his forces no longer recognize Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni as their commander-in-chief.
He announced that the unit would instead place itself, on a temporary basis, under the authority of Northeastern Regional State President Abdulqadir Ahmed Aw-Ali, widely known as Firdhiye.
The announcement marked a sharp escalation in tensions between Garowe and Mogadishu, where relations have deteriorated amid broader disagreements over federal authority, elections, and power-sharing arrangements.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre attended Firdhiye’s inauguration on Saturday in Las Anod, alongside senior federal officials, regional leaders, traditional elders, and foreign diplomats.
The high-profile ceremony was widely interpreted as a strong show of federal backing for the new administration and a direct challenge to Puntland’s influence in the region.
Puntland officials argue that the defection of officers and military equipment undermines the region’s security framework and weakens command and control structures. Federal authorities, however, describe the deployment of former Puntland forces in Las Anod as a legitimate effort to stabilize the area under federal authority.
Security analysts warn that unresolved disputes over weapons, loyalty, and command structures could fuel further instability, particularly in a city already shaped by years of conflict and political contestation.