MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni introduced on Saturday that the semi-autonomous area will deploy troops to southern Somalia to assist federal efforts in opposition to the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab, as soon as it concludes present counter-ISIS operations within the Al-Miskad mountain vary.
Talking at a commencement ceremony for brand spanking new regional forces, Deni reaffirmed Puntland’s dedication to Somalia’s nationwide safety, asserting that the area wouldn’t stay idle because the nation grapples with persistent insurgency. “Puntland is a part of Somalia,” he mentioned. “We’re obliged to contribute to the protection and stabilization of the nation.”
His feedback come amid mounting issues over the Somali federal authorities’s incapability to retain management of areas seized from Al-Shabaab throughout a army offensive launched in mid-2022. In current months, the group has recaptured swathes of territory throughout Hiran, Center Shabelle, and Decrease Shabelle areas, together with a number of key cities, as federal and allied forces struggled to consolidate good points.
Deni, nonetheless, conditioned his participation within the upcoming Nationwide Consultative Council (NCC) assembly, slated for early Might, on what he described as a return to prior political agreements by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. He said that Puntland’s two-year absence from the NCC—a discussion board for dialogue amongst Somalia’s federal and regional leaders—would solely finish if the federal authorities honors beforehand agreed commitments.
Tensions between Puntland and Mogadishu have escalated sharply lately. The regional authorities accuses the federal administration of violating the provisional structure and making unilateral selections, together with controversial constitutional amendments. The dispute has led Puntland to stop recognition of President Mohamud’s authority—a uncommon transfer underscoring the depth of the political rift.
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