Puntland Parliament accuses Federal Government of fueling regional conflicts

Wednesday July 30, 2025

Garowe (HOL) — Puntland’s regional parliament has accused Somalia’s federal government of deliberately inciting political and tribal conflict in several volatile regions, including Gedo, Sanaag, and Haylaan—an allegation that further deepens the rift between Mogadishu and one of its most powerful federal member states.

In a strongly worded resolution passed Tuesday, the Puntland House of Representatives condemned what it called "federal interference" in regional affairs, specifically pointing to the Gedo region of Jubbaland, where clashes have erupted repeatedly over the past ten days. Lawmakers described the government’s actions in Gedo as “an illegal invasion” and warned that continued meddling threatens national cohesion and risks igniting wider unrest.

The latest fighting broke out in Beled Hawo, a border town in Gedo, where federal troops and Jubbaland-aligned forces clashed for the fourth time in less than two weeks. The confrontation came amid the deployment of Abdirashid Janan—a former Jubbaland security minister who is now serving as the regional head of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and overseeing federal stabilization operations in Gedo.

“The federal government must refrain from escalating tensions in regions like Gedo,” the Puntland Parliament warned in its statement. “Such actions endanger the fragile peace among the SSC communities and other vulnerable areas.”

The resolution also called for urgent cooperation among federal member states—specifically Galmudug and Hirshabelle—and the central government to address the deteriorating security landscape in central Somalia. The lawmakers stressed that Al-Shabaab continues to exploit political divisions, urging a unified front against the militant group.

Puntland’s appeal extended to the international community, asking for “concrete support in intelligence and security operations” to empower both the Somali federal government and regional administrations in the ongoing fight against extremism.