{"id":2087,"date":"2026-08-05T18:30:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T18:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=2087"},"modified":"2026-08-05T18:30:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T18:30:09","slug":"puntland-forces-seize-government-held-camp-in-somalias-galkayo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asianewscast.com\/?p=2087","title":{"rendered":"Puntland forces seize government-held camp in Somalia\u2019s Galkayo"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"rich-share\" data-testid=\"rich-share\">\n<div class=\"rich-share__divider\">\n<div class=\"listen-to-article\"><button class=\"listen-to-article__button\" data-testid=\"listen-to-article-button\"><title>Listen<\/title>Listen (3 mins)<\/button><\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__update-reading-list-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"update-reading-list\">\n<p class=\"update-reading-list__button-text\">Save<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rich-share__wrapper\">\n<div 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href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Puntland%20forces%20seize%20government-held%20camp%20in%20Somalia%E2%80%99s%20Galkayo&amp;source=sharethiscom&amp;related=sharethis&amp;via=AJEnglish&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2F5q9bkz\"><title>x<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row u-hidden--desktop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Whatsapp\" href=\"\/\/send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2F5q9bkz\"><title>whatsapp-stroke<\/title><\/a><a class=\"rich-share__social-link row copylink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Copy link\" href=\"https:\/\/aje.news\/5q9bkz\"><title>copylink<\/title><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"google-preferred-source\"><button class=\"google-preferred-source__button\" aria-label=\"Add Al Jazeera on Google\" data-testid=\"google-preferred-source-button\"><title>google<\/title><span class=\"google-preferred-source__text\">Add Al Jazeera on Google<\/span><\/button><button aria-label=\"See more of Al Jazeera\u2019s trusted journalism by adding us as a preferred source on Google.\" class=\"tooltip-accessible_trigger\"><title>info<\/title><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-featured__media\">\n<figure class=\"article-featured-image\">\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/WEB_MAP_SOMALIA_PUNTLAND-1000X562-1687342838.jpg?resize=770%2C513&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Map of Somalia showing Puntland and Somaliland regions\"><\/div><figcaption>Map of Somalia showing the Puntland and Somaliland regions [Al Jazeera]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-info m--t-20 m--desktop-b-30 m--b-mobile-20\">\n<div class=\"byline byline--single-avatar\">\n<div class=\"avatars-container\"><a class=\"avatar\" aria-hidden=\"true\" href=\"\/author\/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2017-06-08T131939Z_1189275883_RC11B0FE7F20_RTRMADP_3_GULF-QATAR-JAZEERA-1714943623.jpg?resize=96%2C96&amp;quality=80\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"byline-content\">\n<div class=\"contributors-list contributors-list--byline\"><span class=\"contributors-list__by-prefix\">By <\/span><a href=\"\/author\/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458\">Al Jazeera Staff<\/a> and <!-- -->AFP<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-dates\">\n<div class=\"date-simple\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Published On 5 Aug 2026<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\">5 Aug 2026<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"p1\">Armed forces from Somalia\u2019s semi-autonomous Puntland state have attacked a camp held by federal government troops, in the latest flare-up between regional leaders and the Somali government.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni told a news conference on Wednesday in the regional capital Garowe that the assault was \u201ca planned security operation\u201d to send a \u201cclear message to anyone working against the Puntland government\u201d.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 3 items<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"more-on__list\">\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 1 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/opinions\/2026\/6\/2\/somalia-needs-a-political-settlement-before-it-is-too-late\">Somalia needs a political settlement before it is too late<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 2 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/5\/7\/somali-pirates-abandon-hijacked-uae-dhow-due-to-dwindling-supplies\">Somali pirates abandon hijacked UAE dhow due to dwindling supplies<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"more-on__article\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list 3 of 3<\/span><a class=\"more-on__link\" href=\"\/news\/2026\/6\/5\/why-mogadishu-clashes-are-deepening-somalias-political-crisis-again\">Why Mogadishu clashes are deepening Somalia\u2019s political crisis again<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cThe operation targeted a camp where the federal government has recently been transporting weapons, military equipment and troops in an attempt to undermine Puntland\u2019s security and stability,\u201d he claimed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"aj-third-party-embed-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"consent-gate\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\">Deni said his administration had repeatedly raised concerns over the Somali president\u2019s decisions, but did not elaborate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cThese actions are disrupting Somalia\u2019s already fragile peace and, in particular, threatening the long-standing stability of Puntland, which has remained peaceful for many years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h4>Government-held camp overrun<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p1\">Heavily armed Puntland forces, backed by military vehicles, launched an operation on Wednesday morning against a military camp near the airport in northern Galkayo city.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The camp was occupied by troops formerly aligned with Puntland authorities but whose commanders recently pledged allegiance to Mogadishu.<\/p>\n<p>Undated footage circulating on social media appeared to show armed men purporting to be Puntland forces taking control of a military facility. It is not clear where the footage was filmed.<\/p>\n<div class=\"aj-third-party-embed-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"consent-gate\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\">In a short statement, Puntland police said local forces had \u201csuccessfully concluded a planned security operation\u201d, leading to the arrest of more than 100 people.<\/p>\n<div class=\"container--ads in-article-ads\">\n<div class=\"ads\"><span class=\"ads__title\"> Advertisement <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\">The statement said the Puntland forces had also \u201cseized weapons, vehicles and military equipment, including firearms, ammunition, police uniforms, handcuffs, police boots and other supplies\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Galkayo residents told the AFP news agency that they had heard several mortar rounds, some landing in residential areas, during the fighting, which lasted for more than an hour. Casualties were reported, but exact figures were not available.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Resident Mohamed Jama told AFP by telephone that the fighting had ended.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cPuntland forces took control of the camp where the fighting occurred, while the opposing forces aligned with the federal government withdrew to southern Galkayo after being overpowered,\u201d another resident, Abdiqani Muse, said.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"no-immediate-reaction\">No immediate reaction<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Neither the federal government nor commanders of the rival force have issued a response to Puntland\u2019s claims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">It is not the first such clash in the country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">In March, federal troops attacked and deposed the leader of South West State, and in August last year, fighting broke out between the federal army and Jubaland forces, killing a number of soldiers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The thorny relations partly stem from the decision by Somalia\u2019s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to change the constitution in March before planned elections. Opposition parties and rivals are against the reforms, seeing them as a power grab by the president.<\/p>\n<p>Somalia is deeply fractured along regional lines, with Puntland President Deni being a vocal opponent of President Mohamud\u2019s push to centralise governance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ListenListen (3 mins) Save Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share facebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylink googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Map of Somalia showing the Puntland and Somaliland regions [Al Jazeera] By Al Jazeera Staff and AFP Published On 5 Aug 20265 Aug 2026 Armed forces from Somalia\u2019s semi-autonomous Puntland state have attacked a camp held [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - 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