BOSASO, Somalia — August 5, 2026 — Heavy fighting continued around Galkayo on Wednesday between Puntland government forces and Puntland Security Force units described by local sources as aligned with Somalia’s Federal Government. A mortar struck a civilian home, injuring one person, while residents near a PSF base in Bosaso were instructed to evacuate.
Witnesses reported sustained exchanges of heavy weapons fire around a military facility on the outskirts of Galkayo, where the confrontation began earlier Wednesday.
Thick black smoke was seen rising from inside the contested compound as the fighting intensified. The cause of the smoke was not immediately known, and independent access to the area remained limited.
The base was occupied by forces identifying themselves as members of the Puntland Security Force, commonly known as the PSF. Local sources described the units as receiving support from Somalia’s Federal Government, but federal officials had not publicly confirmed that claim.
Additional troops reportedly moved from Galkayo toward frontline positions on Wednesday morning. Local sources did not identify which side deployed the reinforcements or provide details about their numbers.
Residents said intermittent gunfire could be heard from neighborhoods inside Galkayo and areas surrounding the city. Heavy weapons were also reportedly used east of Galkayo, where the opposing forces had maintained positions following several days of military tension.
The exact location of the front lines remained unclear. Local sources said both sides were holding defensive positions while exchanging sporadic fire, but the battlefield accounts could not be independently verified.
Casualties and Humanitarian Impact
A mortar shell struck a civilian house in Galkayo during the clashes, damaging the building and injuring at least one person, according to witnesses.
The injured civilian was transported to Galkayo’s main hospital for treatment. Medical officials had not released information about the person’s condition by the time of publication.
It remained unclear which side fired the mortar. Neither Puntland authorities nor PSF commanders had accepted responsibility for the incident.
Local sources also reported additional casualties among those involved in the fighting. No official death or injury toll was available, however, and the reported losses could not be independently confirmed.
The security concerns extended to Bosaso, Puntland’s commercial capital, where residents living near a PSF facility said security personnel instructed them to leave their homes early Wednesday.
Families in neighborhoods surrounding the base reportedly evacuated as a precaution. Officials did not publicly explain whether they expected fighting in Bosaso or say when residents would be allowed to return.
No clashes were immediately reported around the Bosaso facility.
Government Response
Some Puntland security officials told local media that several individuals had left the contested Galkayo base and surrendered. They did not disclose the identities or number of those involved.
PSF representatives had not responded publicly to the surrender claim, which could not be independently verified.
Neither the Puntland government nor Somalia’s Federal Government had released a comprehensive statement explaining what triggered the confrontation or identifying any efforts to end the fighting.
The lack of official information left residents relying largely on accounts from witnesses, local security sources and media outlets operating near the affected areas.
The latest fighting followed several days of heightened tension and a military standoff around positions east of Galkayo. The immediate cause of the confrontation has not been publicly established.
Local sources have described the opposing forces as Puntland government troops and PSF units aligned with the federal government. Mogadishu had not formally addressed allegations that it was supporting the PSF forces involved in the clashes.
Galkayo is divided administratively between Puntland and Galmudug and serves as an important commercial and transport centre linking central and northern Somalia. Security disruptions in and around the city can affect civilian movement and the delivery of goods between several regions.
Bosaso is Puntland’s main commercial hub and one of northern Somalia’s most important port cities. The precautionary evacuation near the PSF base there has raised concerns that the security dispute could affect another major urban centre, although no fighting had been reported in the city.
No ceasefire, mediation effort or direct negotiations between the opposing sides had been publicly announced by Wednesday.
Residents were awaiting further instructions from local authorities as reinforcements remained near the Galkayo front lines and families displaced from areas surrounding the Bosaso base sought information about when they could return.
Authorities had also not announced any investigation into the mortar strike on the civilian home.
The movement of reinforcements around Galkayo and the evacuation of civilians near a PSF facility in Bosaso show that the confrontation is affecting security preparations in two of Puntland’s most important cities.
The mortar strike highlights the danger facing civilians living close to military positions. Prolonged fighting could disrupt transport, access to medical care and commercial activity in Galkayo, particularly if clashes spread into populated neighborhoods.