Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni’s recent arrival in Abu Dhabi follows a three-day visit to Addis Ababa and comes at a highly volatile moment in Somali regional and international politics. His travel coincides with a sharp deterioration in relations between the Federal Government of Somalia and the United Arab Emirates, which was once a key political and security partner in the Horn of Africa.
In recent weeks, the Somali federal authorities have taken decisive steps to downgrade diplomatic relations with the UAE, including withdrawing from several longstanding bilateral and multilateral agreements. These moves reflect growing tensions over sovereignty, military cooperation, and foreign involvement in Somalia’s internal affairs.
Amid this unresolved dispute, reports suggest that the UAE has conveyed through a third party its intention to withdraw from Bosaso, a strategic port city in Puntland where it has maintained a military presence. However, Emirati officials have reportedly stressed that any withdrawal should be accompanied by arrangements to ensure continuity in counter-terrorism operations, particularly those targeting ISIS-Daesh cells active in northeastern Somalia. The UAE considers the Bosaso Base and its operations a critical component of regional security.
Despite these concerns, the Federal Government of Somalia has shown no indication of reversing its stance and continues to apply diplomatic and political pressure on Abu Dhabi. Notably, since Mogadishu demanded that the UAE remove all military assets from Somalia, including drones and remote-control equipment previously based in the capital, there has been a complete halt in Emirati military activity in Bosaso. This pause has been underscored by the absence of UAE military aircraft at Bosaso airport over the past several days.
At the same time, the political rift at the federal level has triggered internal security developments within Puntland itself. Following the Federal Government’s registration and incorporation of certain Puntland forces, local media outlets report that Puntland authorities have mobilized military units and redeployed them to Garowe, the regional capital, signaling heightened alert and preparedness.
Sources close to the Puntland government indicate that President Deni has issued firm directives to military commanders, ordering them to prevent Puntland forces aligned with or registered under the federal government, particularly those who traveled to Las Anod, from re-entering Puntland territory. In parallel, judicial arrest warrants have reportedly been issued, and coordinated security operations have begun within major cities. These measures specifically target soldiers and officers accused of executing directives issued from Mogadishu, reflecting the deepening political and military divide between Puntland and the federal center.
Overall, these developments point to an increasingly complex confrontation involving federal authority, regional autonomy, and foreign influence. This situation could significantly reshape Somalia’s security and political landscape in the coming months.