GALKAYO, Somalia — August 8, 2026 — Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni arrived in Galkayo on Saturday for security, governance and development talks, days after Puntland forces seized a military base from PSF-linked and federal-aligned troops following heavy fighting in the northern part of the divided Mudug regional capital.

Deni travelled overnight by road from Garowe to Galkayo, where he is expected to hold a series of meetings with security commanders, regional and district authorities and representatives of local communities.

The visit comes at a sensitive time for Galkayo after Puntland security forces launched an operation on Wednesday against a military camp near the city’s airport. The facility had been occupied by troops formerly associated with Puntland security structures whose commanders had aligned themselves with Somalia’s federal government. Puntland forces took control of the camp following intense clashes.

During his stay, Deni is expected to focus heavily on security and public order in Galkayo and other parts of Mudug region.

Officials are also expected to review the performance of regional and district administrations as well as development projects being implemented in the area.

The Puntland president’s arrival follows several days of heightened security activity in Galkayo, where tensions between his administration and forces linked to the Puntland Security Force, or PSF, escalated into armed confrontation.

On Wednesday, Puntland forces moved against a camp in northern Galkayo after tensions had been building between the regional administration and soldiers whose commanders had established ties with the federal government in Mogadishu.

Heavy fighting involving machine guns and other weapons was reported before Puntland forces captured the facility. Independent reporting from the city confirmed the takeover after the rival forces withdrew.

President Deni subsequently described the assault as a planned security operation and said his administration would not tolerate armed structures operating outside Puntland’s authority.

The operation was followed by additional moves against PSF-linked positions elsewhere in Puntland. Authorities said Thursday that Puntland forces had taken control of the PSF headquarters in Bosaso, the commercial capital of the region.

Galkayo Security Operation

The confrontation in Galkayo represented a significant escalation in a dispute involving the Puntland administration, former members of its security structures and Somalia’s federal government.

Reports from Galkayo said the troops targeted in Wednesday’s operation included former Puntland security personnel whose commanders had recently pledged allegiance to the federal government.

Puntland has accused Mogadishu of attempting to establish armed units outside the regional government’s command structure, an accusation that has added a security dimension to the long-running political dispute between Garowe and the federal authorities.

The federal government has not publicly accepted Puntland’s characterization of the forces as an attempt to undermine the regional administration.

Puntland authorities have since moved to bring former security personnel back under their command. Reports from Galkayo on Saturday said some federal-aligned troops had withdrawn from military camps north of the city following the security operation.

The developments indicate that Puntland is seeking to eliminate parallel armed command structures following its operations in Galkayo and Bosaso.

Background to the PSF Dispute

Tensions involving the PSF are not new.

The force was originally established as a counterterrorism unit and played a prominent role in operations against militant groups operating in Puntland.

A major internal dispute emerged in late 2021 after Deni attempted to replace then-PSF director Mohamud Osman Abdullahi Diyano. The decision triggered an armed standoff and several days of fighting in Bosaso in December 2021.

A United Nations panel later reported that the clashes were triggered by the leadership dispute and documented concerns about the use of heavy weapons and the impact of the fighting on civilians and civilian areas.

The latest confrontation has developed under different political circumstances, with some former Puntland-linked forces establishing ties with federal authorities.

The dispute also comes amid wider political tensions between Puntland and the federal government over Somalia’s constitutional process, federal arrangements and the distribution of authority between Mogadishu and federal member states.

Deni’s Overnight Journey to Galkayo

Deni travelled from Garowe to Galkayo overnight, a journey of several hundred kilometres along one of Puntland’s main road corridors.

The president’s ability to travel between the two cities at night highlights the comparatively stable security conditions along key routes under Puntland administration.

Nighttime movement remains significantly more difficult on several major roads in southern and central Somalia because of insecurity, militant activity and the threat of roadside attacks.

Deni’s arrival in Galkayo shortly after the fighting also carries practical security significance as Puntland authorities seek to restore normal activity and consolidate control following the confrontation.

Deni is expected to meet senior security commanders to assess the security situation in Galkayo and discuss measures aimed at preventing renewed armed confrontations.

Meetings with Mudug regional officials and Galkayo district authorities are also expected to address local governance, public order and development projects.

Another major issue will be the future status of former Puntland security personnel who had aligned themselves with federal authorities.

Puntland is expected to continue efforts to register or reintegrate personnel willing to return to its security institutions while tightening its control over military facilities and armed units operating within territory under its administration.

The response from Somalia’s federal government will also be closely watched as the security dispute unfolds alongside broader political disagreements between Mogadishu and Garowe.

Deni’s visit comes only days after one of the most serious armed confrontations involving Puntland forces in Galkayo in recent years. His presence in the city signals that the regional administration is shifting from the immediate military operation toward consolidating security and administrative control.

The takeover of the Galkayo camp and subsequent seizure of the PSF headquarters in Bosaso could significantly alter the balance between Puntland authorities and security units operating outside the administration’s direct command. Puntland appears determined to establish a single regional security chain of command.