Authorities in Somalia’s Puntland region have accused the federal government in Mogadishu of smuggling weapons into the state to fuel instability and provoke internal conflict.
Puntland’s Ministry of Security warned in a Wednesday statement that the alleged weapons smuggling risked further destabilising Somalia’s already fragile security situation.
The ministry accused Mogadishu of channelling arms into the territory to deliberately provoke inter‑clan conflict, allegedly working through sympathetic politicians and ex‑officials.
“There is a major coordinated plan between four foreign nations and the federal government, which is executing it,” the statement said, noting that the objective was to arm clans to fight each other and destroy the peace of Puntland.”
Puntland has responded by banning all non‑local security forces from operating in the region and prohibiting federal appointees from entering its territory.
Relations between the central government and federal states have reached a breaking point after the federal administration’s mandate lapsed on 15 May 2026, triggering a surge in political and security tensions.
Leaders of Somalia’s Future Council opposition bloc last weekend urged broad international involvement in resolving the escalating dispute over the country’s electoral process, saying no single actor should be allowed to mediate between the opposition and the federal government.
The appeal came as Turkey seeks to take a leading role in facilitating talks, with Ankara’s intelligence agency reportedly spearheading efforts to broker a political settlement between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration and opposition groups.
