GALKAYO, Somalia — Fighting between Puntland forces and troops aligned with Somalia’s federal government has intensified in the central Mudug region, with a military base outside Galkayo changing hands in a confrontation that has deepened an already widening political dispute ahead of the country’s 2026 elections.
Local sources said Puntland forces entered a base occupied by troops identifying themselves as members of Somalia’s federal-aligned Puntland Security Force (PSF), after heavy fighting involving artillery erupted in eastern Galkayo. Footage from inside the compound appeared to show Puntland soldiers celebrating after taking control of the facility, while Puntland officials said detained officers would be treated well.
The clashes followed reports that a weapons shipment allegedly linked to Somalia’s federal government was intercepted in Mudug, where armed men seized one of two vehicles carrying the consignment, according to local sources. The incident reportedly triggered clashes that left at least two people injured and heightened tensions over the movement of military equipment in the region.
Puntland has accused the federal government of deploying troops and weapons toward Galkayo, saying the moves threaten regional stability. Puntland authorities have blamed Mogadishu for escalating tensions, while Somalia’s federal government has not issued a public response to the latest accusations.
Puntland’s police command said security forces carried out an operation in Galkayo targeting armed groups it described as a threat to security and public order. The statement said the operation was ongoing and that further details would be released after its conclusion.
The confrontation comes amid a broader political crisis over Somalia’s electoral future, constitutional reforms and relations between the federal government and regional administrations. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration has promoted a transition toward a direct voting system, while opposition groups and some federal member states have demanded a wider political agreement before the 2026 elections.
The Somali Future Council, an opposition coalition that includes Puntland and Jubaland officials, has accused the federal government of increasing political tensions through military deployments and urged traditional leaders, regional authorities and civil society groups to work to prevent further escalation.
The Galkayo standoff also raises concerns that political divisions could divert attention from Somalia’s ongoing security challenges, including the fight against al-Shabaab and efforts to maintain stability across federal member states.
With no immediate public statement from Mogadishu on the latest fighting, uncertainty remains over whether the confrontation will be contained or become part of a broader federal-regional crisis ahead of Somalia’s electoral transition. (Hiiraan)
