Garowe, Somalia — August 13, 2026 — Troops stationed in the Kodmo Valley and Kurilaalo areas who had been receiving salaries from Somalia’s Federal Government have reportedly agreed to join the Puntland Defence Forces, according to preliminary information from sources familiar with negotiations between the soldiers and Puntland representatives.
Under the reported agreement, the troops will end their affiliation with the Federal Government and accept the authority and operational command of the Puntland administration.
Sources briefed on the meeting said the soldiers had committed themselves to following orders issued by the Puntland government. The precise number of personnel involved, the identities of those who negotiated the agreement and the timeline for their formal integration were not immediately available.
Neither Somalia’s Federal Government nor the Puntland administration had publicly released the full terms of the reported deal at the time of publication. The account could not be independently verified.
It also remains unclear whether the soldiers will retain their existing command structure, undergo new training or vetting, or be distributed among established Puntland security units.
The reported agreement follows recent armed confrontations involving Puntland forces and elements of the Puntland Security Force, or PSF, described by local sources as aligned with the Federal Government.
Puntland sources said the pro-federal PSF elements were defeated during the confrontations. No independently confirmed casualty figures or comprehensive battlefield assessments were available, and federal authorities had not publicly responded to the claim.
Setback for Federal Government Strategy
If implemented, the transfer of federally paid troops to Puntland’s command would mark a setback for Mogadishu’s reported efforts to build relationships with security units operating outside the regional administration’s direct authority.
The development could reduce the Federal Government’s influence over armed personnel in the affected areas while strengthening Puntland’s control over local security structures.
Relations between the Federal Government and Puntland have remained strained by disputes over Somalia’s constitutional order, political representation, electoral arrangements and the division of authority between Mogadishu and the federal member states.
Puntland has repeatedly defended its autonomy under Somalia’s federal system and accused federal authorities of centralizing power. Mogadishu maintains that national institutions require unified coordination to address the country’s political and security challenges.
Security forces have become an increasingly sensitive part of the dispute. Competing political loyalties among armed units can create confusion over command, salaries and operational responsibilities, particularly when federal and regional authorities issue conflicting instructions.
The PSF has historically been one of Puntland’s prominent security institutions, with a focus on counterterrorism and intelligence-led operations. Political and command disputes have periodically exposed divisions within the force and complicated its relationship with Puntland’s leadership.
The latest reported confrontations appear to have deepened questions about the future alignment of PSF personnel and other troops receiving financial support from the Federal Government.
Security arrangements in Puntland carry wider national significance because the region faces threats from militant organizations while also maintaining its own armed and administrative institutions.
Any prolonged division among security units could divert personnel and resources from counterterrorism operations. It could also raise risks for civilians if political disagreements develop into further armed confrontations.
No civilian casualties or displacement linked to the latest reported events in Kodmo Valley and Kurilaalo had been independently confirmed.
The reported agreement could consolidate Puntland’s authority over forces operating within its territory. Bringing the troops under one command may reduce immediate tensions, although its effect will depend on whether all sides accept and implement the terms.
For the Federal Government, the reported defeat of allied PSF elements and the loss of personnel previously on its payroll could weaken its ability to influence security developments in Puntland. It may also intensify the broader political dispute between Mogadishu and the regional administration.
The situation could affect security beyond the immediate areas involved. Rival command structures risk weakening coordination against militant groups, while a negotiated integration process could reduce the likelihood of renewed clashes among Somali forces.
Attention will now focus on whether Puntland formally confirms the agreement and provides details about the troops’ integration, deployment and command arrangements.
A response from the Federal Government will also be significant, particularly regarding the soldiers’ salaries, legal status and previous relationship with federal institutions.
Local authorities and community representatives are expected to monitor implementation of the agreement amid concerns that unresolved disputes between Mogadishu and Puntland could trigger further military or political tensions.