Reports from Garowe indicate that the Puntland administration has regained control and responsibility for the Danab unit based at Ligle, following months of uncertainty over the status of the forces and their relationship with both Puntland and the Federal Government of Somalia.

The troops were previously part of the Puntland Darawish forces. However, in mid-2025, reports emerged that some members had joined the Somali National Army and had begun receiving salaries from the Federal Government.

The development triggered a political and military dispute between Puntland and Mogadishu, particularly over who had legal and administrative authority over the troops.

The central question was whether the Danab forces should remain under Puntland’s security structure or become part of the national military command controlled by the Federal Government.

The commander of the Danab forces, Gen. Jimcaale Jama Takar, returned to Garowe in mid-July after spending time in Mogadishu and Las Anod. His return came as efforts intensified to resolve the dispute and determine the future of the unit.

Puntland has increasingly expressed concern over what it describes as attempts by the Federal Government to recruit or integrate forces from Puntland directly into federal security institutions without the approval of the Puntland administration.

Ligle military camp, located outside Garowe, has remained the main base of the forces commanded by Gen. Jimcaale. Puntland Post reported on July 18, 2026, that Gen. Jimcaale had visited Ligle, where his Danab forces were stationed.

From Puntland’s perspective, the troops remain part of the region’s security forces. The Federal Government, however, has previously maintained that some of the personnel had been incorporated into the Somali National Army.

A delegation led by former Puntland President Senator Abdirahman Sheikh Mohamed Farole visited Ligle military camp as efforts continued to settle the dispute between the Danab forces and the Puntland administration.

The delegation included Puntland’s Minister of Interior, members of the Puntland parliament, officials from Nugal region, military commanders and other political figures from the area.

During the visit, officials met with troops stationed at the camp. Reports indicated that the soldiers had expressed their readiness to return formally to Puntland’s defense forces.

Gen. Jimcaale Jama Takar also addressed the gathering and said that the troops were originally part of Puntland’s security forces and had never used their weapons to harm the people of Puntland.

Jimcaale said the soldiers were now prepared to once again become part of the Puntland defense forces, signaling a major shift in the unit’s position after months of uncertainty.

His remarks appear to have reduced, at least from the commander’s side, the dispute over whether the Danab unit had permanently separated from Puntland’s security structure.

Former Puntland President Senator Abdirahman Farole said the dispute between the Puntland administration and the Danab forces had been resolved.

Farole said the troops would now go through the formal registration process required to become part of Puntland’s defense forces.

The former president’s involvement is significant because he remains an influential political figure in Puntland and has previously played a role in efforts to mediate political and security disputes within the region.

Gen. Jimcaale Jama Takar is a longtime Puntland military officer who has served within the region’s security forces for many years.

His forces have participated in military operations conducted by Puntland in different parts of the region, including operations against armed groups.

Previous records concerning Puntland’s security forces have identified Jimcaale as one of the officers who served within the Darawish forces and participated in operations against armed groups.

The dispute between Jimcaale and the Puntland administration also has a longer political history, particularly involving Puntland’s internal political disagreements and disputes surrounding elections and the administration of security forces.

The return of the Danab forces to Puntland’s security structure could have important implications for the Federal Government, particularly if some of the troops had previously been incorporated into the national military system.

Puntland has consistently maintained that its defense forces are responsible for maintaining security within its territory and has resisted efforts by Mogadishu to directly control or recruit its forces.

The Federal Government, meanwhile, has argued that Somalia needs a unified national army capable of operating under a common command structure, particularly as the country continues its fight against Al-Shabaab.

This disagreement over military command is part of a much broader dispute between Mogadishu and several federal member states over the division of constitutional powers, security responsibilities and the structure of Somalia’s national armed forces.

The Puntland administration’s reported reassertion of control over the Danab forces at Ligle, together with statements from Gen. Jimcaale and Senator Farole, suggests that a significant step has been taken toward resolving a dispute that had continued for months.

The next important step will be the formal registration and integration of the troops into Puntland’s defense forces, as well as determining whether any outstanding issues remain between Puntland and the Federal Government over the soldiers’ previous status.

The Ligle camp and Gen. Jimcaale’s forces provide another example of how closely Somalia’s political and security disputes are connected.

The episode also highlights the need for a clear and agreed framework governing federal and state-level forces.

Without such an arrangement, disagreements over salaries, recruitment, command and deployment can quickly develop into broader political and military confrontations.

For Puntland, bringing the Danab forces back under its command would strengthen its control over security forces operating within its territory. For Mogadishu, however, the development could raise renewed questions about efforts to build a unified national military.

Ultimately, the lasting resolution of the dispute will depend not only on the registration of the troops but also on whether Puntland and the Federal Government can reach a broader political agreement on who controls Somalia’s regional forces and how they fit into the country’s national security structure.

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