Garowe (PP News Desk) — Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, who served twice as Prime Minister of Somalia, has warned against a possible armed conflict in Galkacyo. In a post on X, he said that Galkacyo was not Almiskad, where Puntland forces had been fighting terrorist groups.
Sharmarke argued that the Puntland authorities should not use military force against other Puntland Security Forces (PSF) without a clear legal reason. He warned that moving large amounts of weapons towards Galkacyo could waste soldiers, money and equipment needed for the fight against terrorism in Puntland.
He also said that a new conflict could cause regional instability, a humanitarian crisis and the involvement of other armed groups. He called on politicians, traditional elders and religious scholars to act quickly and prevent fighting.
The warning came after the Puntland State Presidency issued a statement saying that the Puntland Security Force, known as the PSF, was not legally recognised as part of Puntland’s defence forces. The PSF is one of the armed forces operating in Puntland and has recently been described as being allied with Somalia’s Federal Government.
This disagreement has a difficult history. In 2021, an attempt by the Puntland Government to remove the PSF leadership and take control of its weapons led to deadly fighting in Boosaaso. Boqor Burhan, the King of the Darod clan, later led traditional elders who mediated between the PSF and the Puntland Government and helped end the deadlock.
© Puntland Post, 2026