Puntland bans Somalia government officials from entering region
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s Puntland authorities on Wednesday announced sweeping security measures targeting federal government activities inside the region, barring federal officials from entry, restricting the movement of militias allied with politicians aligned with Mogadishu and warning against the transport of weapons into the region, in the latest escalation of an increasingly bitter dispute with […]
Black News 
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s Puntland authorities on Wednesday announced sweeping security measures targeting federal government activities inside the region, barring federal officials from entry, restricting the movement of militias allied with politicians aligned with Mogadishu and warning against the transport of weapons into the region, in the latest escalation of an increasingly bitter dispute with the Somali federal government.
In a statement issued by Puntland’s Ministry of Security, regional authorities prohibited the federal government from recruiting troops and militias from Puntland, warning that anyone found engaging in such activities would face accountability.
The ministry also ordered that technical vehicles operated by militias allied with the federal government be prevented from moving within the region, underscoring Puntland’s efforts to tighten security controls across its territory.
Regional authorities further declared that “individuals holding security ranks or official positions within the federal government who seek to create instability or unrest in Puntland will not be allowed to enter any part of the region through its borders or airports.”
The measures also included a directive targeting piracy. Puntland said anyone involved in piracy activities would face legal action, while security forces were instructed to apprehend suspects and seize the weapons used in such operations.
Authorities additionally prohibited political meetings deemed aimed at undermining Puntland, warning that organizers and participants would be held accountable under the law.
In a separate warning, Puntland cautioned the federal government against airlifting what it described as “illegal weapons” into Puntland through airports located in the region. The administration also warned aircraft operators against transporting such weapons, stating that any aircraft harmed while carrying them would bear sole responsibility.
The announcement comes after Somaliguardian recently reported that Puntland had deployed large numbers of fresh troops across major cities and security checkpoints in an effort to prevent federal government-allied forces from moving between key urban centers in the region.
The latest measures signal a further deterioration in relations between Puntland and Somalia’s federal government, with analysts warning that the growing military deployments, movement restrictions and increasingly confrontational rhetoric are bringing both sides closer to a potential armed conflict.
The developments mark one of the most significant security escalations in recent months between Puntland and authorities in Mogadishu, highlighting the widening divide between the regional administration and Somalia’s federal government as tensions continue to intensify.
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