Monday August 3, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Puntland and the United States have signed a security agreement allowing the expansion of a U.S. military facility in the port city of Bosaso, deepening cooperation on counterterrorism operations and maritime security in the Horn of Africa.
The agreement was signed Sunday during a meeting in Bosaso between Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni and a U.S. delegation led by Maj. Gen. Claude K. Tudor Jr., commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA). The meeting was also attended by Puntland ministers, senior military officers and government advisers.
"The Puntland Government and the United States also signed an agreement to expand bilateral cooperation. The agreement allows the United States Government to expand its base in Bosaso to enhance counterterrorism operations and ensure maritime security," the statement said.
Puntland said the agreement reflects its commitment to working with international partners to combat terrorism and protect the security and stability of Puntland, Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa.
Bosaso has become an increasingly important hub for counterterrorism operations targeting the Islamic State group in northern Somalia, whose fighters are based in the rugged Cal Miskaad mountain range in Bari region.
The United States has provided extensive military support to Puntland's campaign against ISIS, conducting numerous airstrikes over the past two years while also supplying intelligence, military equipment and logistical assistance.
Backed by U.S. and other international partners, Puntland security forces say they have recaptured large areas previously controlled by ISIS after months of military operations in the mountainous region.
The agreement comes as Washington continues to deepen its security partnership with Somali authorities in efforts to counter both ISIS and al-Shabab, while protecting strategic maritime routes through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
The U.S. government has not yet publicly commented on the reported agreement or provided details about the scope and timeline of the planned expansion of its facility in Bosaso.
