Puntland State authorities have issued a stern warning against military personnel and officers who recently announced their cooperation with Somalia’s Federal Government, signalling a further escalation in tensions between Garowe and Mogadishu over security and military authority.

The administration of Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni stated that it would not permit the existence of parallel security forces within Puntland-controlled territories, emphasizing that only officially recognised Puntland forces would be allowed to operate in the region.

Speaking to the media, Puntland’s Deputy Minister for Security and Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR), Abdirahman Yusuf Farah, widely known as Dujaana, said the administration was closely monitoring soldiers and officers publicly declaring that they had defected from Puntland’s security forces to align themselves with the Federal Government.

He warned that Puntland would take decisive action against any force operating outside the state’s established command structure, describing such formations as unacceptable from a security and political standpoint.

“There cannot be two separate armies operating in Puntland. No parallel force will be allowed to emerge. Puntland’s security forces stand in direct opposition to hostile groups such as Al-Shabaab and ISIS, and we will take the necessary measures against any unlawful armed elements whenever required,” Dujaana stated.

The remarks come amid a series of public appearances by military officers and soldiers who claim to have left Puntland forces and pledged allegiance to the Federal Government in Mogadishu. The developments have underscored the deepening political and security rift between Puntland and the Somali Federal authorities.

Although Puntland officials had previously acknowledged the defections, the latest statement marks one of the clearest indications yet that the Deni administration may pursue punitive or security measures against those involved.