Soldiers in Puntland demand unpaid salaries, stage protest in Garowe

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Wednesday May 31, 2023

Garowe (HOL) – Puntland regional state soldiers have staged a mutiny on Wednesday morning over unpaid salaries and allowances in Garowe, the state's administrative capital.

The protesting soldiers have blockaded the road leading to the presidency and ministries of Puntland, effectively halting the movement of people and vehicles. Military vehicles and stones have been strategically placed to obstruct the thoroughfare.

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The blocked road serves as a crucial route used by ministry employees, the Puntland presidency, business centers, and various institutions daily.

The soldiers involved in the strike primarily consisted of those tasked with guarding the presidential palace, where Regional President Said Deni and other state authorities reside. Some troops have voiced their grievances, citing several months of salary arrears.

This marks the second instance within a few days that Puntland forces staged a protest to express their dissatisfaction with unpaid wages. Just days ago, soldiers stationed in the Golis mountains had similarly blocked the road to Bosaso.

Puntland has gained a reputation for army strikes occurring during the final year of a president's term, often resulting in delayed salary payments for both the military and civilian workers, as leaders focus on election-related matters.

However, last week, the residents in Somalia's semi-autonomous state of Puntland cast votes in local elections, despite an opposition boycott that led to security incidents in the days before the polls.

Puntland polls were the first one-person, one-vote elections to be held in more than half a century in the conflict-ridden, fragile Horn of Africa nation, excluding the unrecognized breakaway region of Somaliland, which considers itself as an independent republic.

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