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Puntland bars non-regional troops and unauthorized military vehicles from entering, transiting, or operating within its territorial borders, marking a major escalation in its ongoing constitutional dispute with the central government. Following a high-level Council of Ministers session in the regional capital of Garowe on Thursday, state authorities issued a strict directive ordering all local security and justice institutions to take immediate legal action against any external units violating the new border rules. The regional administration emphasized that the dramatic restriction is a necessary step to safeguard internal stability and maintain strict, localized administrative oversight over its sovereign security sectors amid deepening friction with national planners in Mogadishu.
The sweeping defense decree comes amid intense political friction regarding the overall command structure of the Somali National Army and centralized control over federal member states. In its official text, Puntland reiterated that its regional forces are entirely independent and will not be considered part of the federal military apparatus until a final, consensus-based political agreement addresses outstanding constitutional amendments. Local political analysts note that the ban follows highly controversial moves by federal authorities, including the unilateral registration of security forces inside Puntland and the direct distribution of federal funds to specific units in an alleged attempt to bypass Garowe’s established command chains.
The growing security rift highlights a wider institutional breakdown regarding resource sharing, electoral processes, and federal-state relations across the country. While federal leaders continue to advocate for centralized state-building and unified national security operations, Puntland authorities view independent federal recruitment drives within their borders as a direct, politically motivated threat to their long-term autonomy. With defense officials previously warning that federal force could be used against non-compliant regional states, the absolute ban on non-regional troop movements ensures that the security architecture of the region will remain completely divided until inclusive constitutional dialogue resumes.