A group of Puntland Darawish forces who recently returned from operations against the Islamic State (IS/ISIS) in the Calmiskaad mountains have staged a protest in Carmo district, raising serious complaints against the Puntland administration.

The soldiers said they were trained in Badhan district in Sanaag region and accused officials of corruption, favouritism and neglect, alleging that benefits owed to them—including salaries, allowances and military supplies—have not been provided fairly or consistently.

Speaking during the protest, the troops claimed that resources allocated for frontline units had been mismanaged and that some detachments were prioritised over others. They said the situation has negatively affected morale and reduced operational effectiveness at a time when forces are engaged in an intensive campaign in the Calmiskaad mountain range.

The protesting soldiers stated they are temporarily operating outside the direct command structure of the Puntland leadership until their grievances are addressed. However, they stressed they have not withdrawn from the fight against ISIS and said they will continue conducting operations in Calmiskaad under a self-coordinated arrangement while maintaining pressure on the militant group.

Local sources said the situation in Carmo remained calm, despite increased security movement. Traditional elders and district-level officials were reported to be facilitating talks aimed at de-escalating tensions and reaching a settlement.

Puntland authorities had not issued an official statement in response at the time of reporting. The protest comes amid ongoing counter-ISIS operations in Calmiskaad, where maintaining unity and sustained logistical support for frontline forces is widely seen as critical to the campaign’s success.