MUDUG, Somalia — August 21, 2026 — Puntland security forces took control of the Barda Dheere military camp in the Mudug region on Friday after a brief exchange of gunfire with local opponents who resisted the deployment, according to local sources. No casualties were reported, and the regional forces remained in control of the facility by the end of the operation.

The Barda Dheere camp had previously been occupied by personnel described by local sources as taking orders from Somalia’s Federal Government. It was not immediately clear when those forces left the facility or whether their departure resulted from negotiations with Puntland authorities.

Before Puntland forces entered the camp, a brief armed confrontation occurred between the troops and local elders and their supporters who opposed the planned deployment, sources familiar with the incident said.

The exchange of gunfire ended quickly without reported deaths or injuries. Puntland forces subsequently entered the compound and established control over the military facility.

The circumstances surrounding the opposition from community leaders were not immediately clear. No local elder involved in the confrontation had publicly explained the reasons for resisting the deployment by the time of publication.

Puntland authorities have also not disclosed how many troops were sent to Barda Dheere or what role the camp will serve under the regional security command.

Neither Puntland’s government nor Somalia’s Federal Government had issued a detailed official statement on the incident. Independent confirmation of the identity and affiliation of the forces previously stationed at the camp was not immediately available.

Recent Clashes With Federal-Aligned Forces

The Barda Dheere takeover follows several confrontations in which Puntland forces have overpowered or disarmed security units described as aligned with the federal authorities in Mogadishu.

On August 5, heavily armed Puntland forces attacked and captured a military camp near the airport in northern Galkayo. The compound had been occupied by troops whose commanders had previously served under Puntland but later pledged allegiance to the Federal Government

Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni described that assault as a planned security operation. He alleged that Mogadishu had been sending weapons, military supplies and personnel to the camp in an attempt to undermine Puntland. The Federal Government did not immediately substantiate or accept those allegations.

Puntland police said more than 100 people were detained during the Galkayo operation and that regional forces seized weapons, vehicles, ammunition and other military supplies. Residents told AFP that the opposing forces withdrew toward southern Galkayo after losing control of the compound.

Casualties were reported during the fighting, which included mortar fire, but reliable figures were unavailable.

An earlier confrontation occurred between July 19 and July 21 near Laag and Madar-Jiif, outside the port city of Bosaso. Puntland Dervish forces intercepted personnel belonging to the Puntland Security Force, or PSF, a once-regionally affiliated counterterrorism unit that has developed closer ties with the Federal Government.

The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data organization said Puntland forces detained 53 personnel and seized eight military vehicles during those confrontations. ACLED recorded seven clashes between Puntland forces and federal-loyal units in June and July, warning that the dispute was diverting personnel and resources from counterterrorism operations in northern Somalia.

Puntland later declared that the PSF was not legally part of its security establishment and rejected the operation of federally registered forces within its territory. Federal Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi had previously said that the PSF formed part of Somalia’s national forces.

Relations between Puntland and the Federal Government have deteriorated over constitutional amendments, the national electoral system and control of security institutions.

Puntland announced in March 2024 that it would operate independently of federal institutions until Somalia reached an agreed constitutional settlement. Its leaders accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration of centralizing political power, an allegation federal officials have rejected.

The military dispute intensified in June 2026 after the Federal Government appointed a new commander for the Somali National Army’s 54th Division, which operates in northern Somalia. Puntland rejected the appointment and restricted the movement and recruitment activities of federal forces inside territory under its administration.

A Critical Threats Project assessment⁠ said Puntland subsequently reinforced checkpoints in Bosaso, Garowe and Galkayo while federal authorities continued efforts to organize and supply forces in the region.

Control of Barda Dheere strengthens Puntland’s ability to regulate military positions in Mudug and restrict the movement of forces it considers outside its command. The takeover also shows that the security dispute with Mogadishu has expanded beyond political statements and administrative restrictions.

Repeated confrontations risk creating parallel chains of command among Somali security personnel. That fragmentation could weaken coordination against the Islamic State group and al-Shabaab, particularly if regional and federal units redirect troops and equipment toward internal disputes.

Mudug is especially sensitive because Galkayo is divided between Puntland in the north and Galmudug in the south. Any sustained military buildup could heighten local tensions, disrupt trade routes and expose civilians to renewed violence.