The Puntland security forces (PSF) and the Danab special force have officially integrated with the Somali national armed forces to be under one command.
This landmark unification of the forces bolstered by local units from the Raaxo district in Karkaar region marks a strategic turning point in the federal government’s mission to consolidate military command and eradicate the Al-shabaab threats across the Horn of Africa.

The moves come as the federal government seeks to transition security responsibility from international peacekeeping missions to a unified indigenous force.
This new unification brings together 2 different but highly capable forces under one command of the Somali National Army.

Puntland security forces historically are one of the most effective regional forces in the counterterrorism unit in the Horn of Africa. They were formed in 1998 upon the creation of Puntland State but formally restructured in 2002 as the Puntland Intelligence Service (PIS).

This unit has heavily received assistance from the US. C.I.A. in 2020 and was then split into the Counter Terrorism and Puntland Intelligence Agency. They have a reputation in leading Mountain warfare in the Galgala and CalMiskaad mountains against the Al-shabaab.

They have also been involved in counter insurgency and strategic expertise, and now its integration into the Somali National Army will provide a deep localized knowledge of the Northern region.

mountain The Danab Special Forces are the elite commando unit of the Somalia National Army. They are U.S.-trained forces and have led high-value specialized missions in southern and central Somalia.

Danab were established in 2013, and their goal was to build a highly mobile multi-clan counterterrorism force capable of conducting complex operations that the regular SNA was not yet equipped for. Danab defining feature is its multi-clan recruitment policy, that is purely based on merit.

The Rako Raaxo local unit form Karkaar region inclusion is a significant victory for the community based security organization. These units were previously organized as regional paramilitaries or clan-based defense groups and provide the necessary human terrain intelligence to hold terrain after it has been cleared of militants.

The new unification is a tactical necessity; for years the Puntland model of security operated semi-independently of Mogadishu, and by joining forces, the Somalia national army will have a central intelligence unit, unified logistics, and national legitimacy based on the Puntland model of counterinsurgency.