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As Puntland seizes PSF headquarters in Bosaso after Galkayo operation, regional security authorities announced Thursday that state forces have established complete administrative and operational control over the military complex in the coastal commercial hub. According to a formal statement issued by the Puntland Defence Forces, government troops secured the command facilities without significant resistance, bringing a swift end to the factional presence at the site. The takeover in the Bari region security district follows a major military engagement in Galkayo a day earlier, where regional forces overran another base affiliated with the group. Official military reports confirmed that both operations were conducted to dismantle armed structures operating outside the constitutional authority of the Puntland regional administration.
The consecutive military actions mark a decisive culmination of long-standing political and operational friction between the administration of President Said Abdullahi Deni and command elements associated with the former Puntland Security Force structure. Originally established in the early 2000s as an intelligence-led counterterrorism unit with international backing, the force played a pivotal role in combating insurgent groups across the Cal Madow and Cal Miskaad mountain ranges. However, executive attempts to restructure the unit led to deteriorating relations, culminating in armed clashes in 2021. Although subsequent mediation efforts sought to resolve command disputes, Puntland authorities maintained that factional units failed to integrate into the official regional defense framework.
State police officials reported that during the preceding operation at the Galkayo military base, regional security forces detained 101 individuals and took 60 injured personnel into custody following hours of heavy combat. Authorities also seized a substantial cache of military equipment, including light and heavy weaponry, tactical vehicles, ammunition, and specialized logistics gear. Official statements indicated that among the captured materials were police uniforms and equipment previously provided by international donors to federal security institutions. Regional officials cautioned that individuals providing material support or harbor to unauthorized armed elements would face immediate prosecution under state law.
The rapid consolidation of military assets across Bari region security centers reflects Puntland’s broader effort to centralize defense command and assert territorial governance amid ongoing political friction with federal authorities in Mogadishu. Political leaders from neighboring regional states and opposition figures have issued statements monitoring the developments, as state authorities encourage local residents to cooperate with security patrols and report potential threats via designated emergency channels. As Puntland seizes PSF headquarters in Bosaso after Galkayo operation, government officials emphasized that regional security forces will maintain active surveillance around former counterterrorism unit assets to uphold public order, enforce statutory regulations, and ensure long-term stability throughout northeastern Somalia.