
Sunday May 18, 2025

FILE - Mudug regional governor Faisal Sheikh Ali, commonly known as Jifo Jabsade, is seen at his office in Galkayo, Puntland. Jabsade has recently warned the Puntland Security Force (PSF) against unauthorized military activity, threatening the use of force if operations continue outside official command.
Galkayo (HOL) — The Puntland government has warned it may use tanks and artillery against the Puntland Security Force (PSF) in Galkayo, accusing the unit of carrying out rogue operations without regional authorization.
The threat, issued by Mudug regional governor Faisal Sheikh Ali—commonly known as Jifo Jabsade—comes after a series of PSF-led overnight operations in the city. The governor said the force is not legally registered under Puntland's official security structure and warned that any further deployments would be treated as criminal acts.
"If you leave the base again, this place will become the battlefield," Jabsade said. "You can see the tanks and artillery surrounding you. Galkayo is no longer a playground for chaos."
The PSF, initially formed in 2002 with American support to combat terrorism and piracy, has grown into a well-equipped counterterrorism and intelligence unit. While officially under Puntland jurisdiction, the force has operated with increasing autonomy, fueling repeated clashes with regional authorities.
The dispute intensified after Puntland accused Somali Police Force Commander Gen. Asad Osman Abdullahi Diyaano, whose family maintains strong ties to the PSF, of orchestrating unauthorized military activity inside Puntland. Diyaano, a former PSF commander, now leads the federal police force.
In response, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has dispatched senior officers and reinforcements to Galkayo to counter what he views as an illegal military buildup by federal-aligned forces.
Governor Jabsade has also instructed Puntland's security agencies to dismantle illegal checkpoints and arrest anyone disrupting the city's peace.
The Galkayo standoff is the latest chapter in a long-running power struggle between the PSF's leadership, controlled by the powerful Osman Diyaano family, and the Puntland government. Tensions reached a boiling point in December 2021, when President Said Abdullahi Deni attempted to dismiss PSF commander Mohamoud Osman Diyaano. The commander refused to step down, sparking armed confrontations between PSF loyalists and Puntland forces in Bosaso that left at least seven people dead.
Since then, relations have remained fraught. In 2024, the PSF unilaterally shut down Bosaso Airport amid allegations it had landed illegal weapons shipments, further straining ties with Puntland authorities, who accused the force of undermining civilian control.
The current dispute also carries federal implications. Puntland officials have accused Somali Police Commissioner Gen. Asad Osman Abdullahi Diyaano—Mohamoud's brother and former PSF commander—of orchestrating unlawful military activities in Mudug under the guise of federal authority. Recent reports suggest some PSF elements in Galkayo may be operating under registration with the federal government, a move Puntland views as a threat to its autonomy.
In response, President Deni has reportedly dispatched reinforcements to Galkayo and tasked senior military officers with halting what his administration sees as a federal-backed attempt to destabilize Puntland's command structure.
The PSF's Galkayo base, which occasionally hosts U.S. AFRICOM aircraft, remains a strategic site for regional counterterrorism efforts. However, the escalating confrontation with Puntland leadership has raised alarms about coordination breakdowns in Somalia's broader security landscape.