LAS’ANOD — Somaliland administration on Monday announced that two soldiers and a military vehicle had defected from Northeastern State forces, a claim immediately rejected by the Northeastern administration’s Dervish Forces Command, which described the reports as false and misleading.
Somaliland officials identified the two soldiers as Elmi Mohamed Ali and Muhuyadin Abdi Ahmed, saying they abandoned their military unit in the Gumays area before arriving at a Somaliland forces base in Oog district with a military vehicle.
According to Somaliland authorities, the two men had previously served in Somaliland’s armed forces and received military training there before distancing themselves from recent military confrontations and political developments in the region.
During a ceremony held to welcome the soldiers, Somaliland military officials said those returning to Somaliland’s forces would be received peacefully and would not face retaliation. The officials rejected claims that defecting soldiers could be subjected to punishment.
“You have come home, and we welcome you,” one Somaliland officer said during the ceremony. “Anyone who returns to the Somaliland forces will be warmly welcomed.”
The two soldiers expressed gratitude for the reception and said their return represented a return to their home and their former military institution.
However, the Dervish Forces Command of the Northeastern administration rejected Somaliland’s claims, stating that no soldiers or military vehicles had left its forces.
In a statement issued on July 6, 2026, the command dismissed reports circulating in the media and on social media as “fake news,” accusing Somaliland of spreading inaccurate information aimed at influencing public opinion.
The competing claims come amid continued political and security tensions between Somaliland and the Northeastern administration, particularly over disputed areas in Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn regions.
The two sides have previously engaged in political and military competition over territorial control, with both administrations accusing each other of using information campaigns to strengthen their positions.
Analysts say the latest dispute could further heighten tensions in the region, where unresolved territorial issues and political rivalries continue to pose challenges to stability.
