Officers of Puntland’s Dervish Forces and Those of Puntland’s Maritime Police Force (PMPF) showcased weapons they reportedly seized from Puntland Security Forces in Laag area on the outskirts of Bosaso.
In a statement, the Dervish Forces Command announced that its troops had concluded in an operation lasting just a few hours—a mission against militias that had recently been causing insecurity and instability in Puntland.
In the statement, the Command allegedly accused the President of the Somali Federal Government, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of being behind their mobilization to undermine the security and the unity of Puntland.
The Puntland Defense Forces concluded a brief operation in the Laag area against militias that had recently been destabilizing Puntland—militias whose mobilization was orchestrated by the outgoing President of the Somali Federal Government, said the statement.
The outgoing administration, which remains in the country, illegally organized those militias to undermine the security, stability, unity, governance, and peace of Puntland. Security forces seized military vehicles, various types of weapons, and prisoners from those militias while the remnants—who have scattered — are being pursued, and the operation will be concluded within a few hours, the report added.
Puntland’s Dervish Forces and Puntland Security forces (PSF) troops clashed in Laag area late Monday after Dervish units blocked the PSF forces from travelling to Galkayo and ordered them to return to Bosaso; this confrontation led to a standoff that lasted throughout the night on the outskirts of Bosaso.
The Puntland state government deployed significant reinforcements to the Laag area and compelled the PSF forces to abandon their combat vehicles. Today, Puntland officials transported the seized vehicles from the PSF forces to the city of Bosaso.
