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Troop movements in Shaxda spark fears of conflict as former allies turn into rivals over contested borderlands near the Sool region.
A serious land dispute has erupted between Puntland and SSC-Khaatumo over a contested area along their shared border, increasing tensions between the two neighboring administrations.
The situation escalated on Friday when Puntland deployed troops to the Shaxda area in the Karkaar region. This came just one day after SSC-Khaatumo forces had arrived there. Puntland authorities say armed militias from Taleeh, aligned with SSC-Khaatumo, secretly entered Shaxda, causing alarm in Garowe, Puntland’s capital.
Shaxda is located near the Sool region—a zone that has been at the center of longstanding territorial disputes. While the Somaliland administration previously laid claim to the area, Puntland now accuses SSC-Khaatumo of trying to take over land that Puntland considers to be within its borders.
Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mahmoud Aydiid Dirir, strongly criticized SSC-Khaatumo’s actions. He accused the group of attempting to grab land belonging to Puntland, calling their move “provocative and unacceptable.”
This recent dispute is adding strain to already tense relations between Puntland and SSC-Khaatumo. The two administrations have had a rocky relationship, which worsened after Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre visited Las Anod—SSC-Khaatumo’s main stronghold. Puntland viewed the visit as a show of support for SSC-Khaatumo’s push for autonomy.
Puntland still claims SSC-Khaatumo is part of its regional administration, despite the group’s efforts to establish itself as an independent entity. Matters became more complicated when the federal government officially recognized SSC-Khaatumo as part of Somalia’s federal system. Puntland has not publicly accepted this recognition.
The current standoff is surprising to many, considering that Puntland previously supported SSC-Khaatumo in its conflict with Somaliland. That alliance had helped SSC-Khaatumo gain control over large parts of the Sool and Sanaag regions. However, the growing competition over territory now threatens to end that partnership.
Observers warn that if both sides do not choose dialogue and diplomacy, the situation could lead to armed conflict. With both administrations sending troops into the same area, the risk of violence is rising quickly.
There is growing concern among the local population and the wider Somali community that the conflict could destabilize the region. Many are calling for urgent mediation to prevent further escalation and to protect civilians living near the disputed zone.
Leaders from both Puntland and SSC-Khaatumo are under pressure to avoid conflict and resolve their differences through peaceful negotiation. The federal government may also need to step in to facilitate dialogue and prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
As the standoff continues, the people of Shaxda and surrounding areas remain caught in the middle of a growing political and military struggle between two former allies. Without immediate action, what started as a border dispute could become a wider regional crisis.