By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU — The Federal Government of Somalia has released long-delayed salary payments for members of the Puntland Security Force (PSF), the Puntland-based Danab Special Forces, and other regional security units, according to local media and government sources.
The decision reportedly followed months of negotiation between Mogadishu and the Puntland administration, amid tensions over command authority and financial control of the region’s armed units.
Some forces had previously been denied pay by the Puntland government, allegedly because they were not fully loyal to the regional command. The new move by the federal government to release salaries directly has sparked debate about federal–regional coordination in Somalia’s fragile security sector.
“Payment of salaries to federalized units in Puntland is part of efforts to unify national security structures under a single chain of command,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Security in Mogadishu. “It also ensures that soldiers and police officers are not punished due to political disputes.”
Puntland, considered one of Somalia’s more stable and self-governing regions, has in recent months launched a security reform initiative aimed at reducing dependence on clan militias and forming a professional, accountable force. The campaign has included the disarmament of unauthorized groups and stricter vetting of security personnel.
The PSF, based in Bosaso and Galkayo, is an elite counterterrorism unit originally trained and equipped by the United States to combat Al-Shabaab and Islamic State fighters in the Bari Mountains. The Danab Commandos, another elite contingent, have also played a key role in counterterrorism operations, particularly around Garowe, the Puntland capital.
Observers say the federal move could either strengthen cooperation or escalate mistrust between Mogadishu and Garowe, depending on how the funds are distributed. “The issue of who controls salaries and loyalty is political as much as it is military,” said Mohamed Hassan, a security analyst in Mogadishu.
In a related diplomatic development, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is scheduled to travel to Cairo on November 1 to attend the inauguration of Egypt’s new National Museum. The event will also feature a trilateral summit between the presidents of Somalia, Egypt, and Eritrea, following up on their earlier meeting in Asmara to discuss regional cooperation in the Horn of Africa.
Meanwhile, Somalia was notably absent from a United Nations Security Council session on Thursday evening that discussed the worsening crisis in Sudan and the alleged atrocities by the RSF, raising questions about Mogadishu’s diplomatic priorities amid regional turmoil.
