GAROWE, Somalia — Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has warned Somalia’s federal government against further military escalation in the country’s southern regions following a December 2024 clash between federal troops and Jubaland forces in the border town of Raaskambooni.
In public remarks delivered on Sunday, Deni expressed concern about the implications of the December 11 confrontation and emphasized the need for political dialogue among Somali stakeholders.
“We are deeply concerned by the attack in Raaskambooni,” Deni said. “It was a serious event that risks repeating past mistakes.”
Federal-Jubaland tensions
On December 11 2024, armed clashes broke out between Somali federal forces and troops loyal to the Jubaland administration in Raaskambooni, a strategic town located in the Lower Jubba region near the Kenyan border.
Jubaland forces regained control of the town after hours of fighting. Some federal troops reportedly crossed into Kenya, and unconfirmed accounts suggested casualties on both sides. The Somali government has not publicly disclosed full details of the operation or its outcomes.
Raaskambooni has long been a contested area between the central government and the Jubaland regional administration. The town holds geopolitical importance due to its location near the border and past military operations involving federal and foreign-backed forces.
President Deni reiterated Puntland’s support for Somalia’s federal model and called for de-escalating tensions between Mogadishu and regional states.
“Puntland supports the decisions made by the Jubaland administration,” Deni said. “We caution against any attempt to resolve political disagreements through force or to equate dissent with disloyalty. Dialogue must be the foundation of national unity.”
While Deni’s comments supported a fellow federal member state, he stopped short of making specific demands and instead focused on the broader need for restraint and political negotiation.
Federal-State disputes persist
Somalia’s federal system has faced continued stress from disputes over resource control, election processes, and security responsibilities. Periodic political and military standoffs have marked relations between the central government and several federal member states.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration has maintained that efforts to extend federal authority into all regions are based on constitutional mandates. Regional leaders, including those in Jubaland and Puntland, have sometimes challenged the government’s interpretation of federal powers.
Observers have warned that if left unresolved, such disputes could weaken ongoing efforts to combat Al-Shabaab and disrupt progress toward national stability.
International partners, including the African Union, the United Nations, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), have consistently called for cooperation and peaceful resolution of disputes among Somali institutions.
Deni echoed those sentiments, emphasizing dialogue over confrontation.
“No side can impose its will on the rest,” he said. “The only sustainable path forward is mutual respect and communication.”
As of Sunday, the federal government had not publicly responded to Deni’s remarks.