Sunday September 15, 2024
FILE - Puntland's Minister of Information, Mahamoud Aydid Dirir, at a government meeting. Dirir recently addressed the escalating tensions in Bosaso, emphasizing the regional government's authority over the city.
Garowe (HOL) — Puntland's Minister of Information, Mahamoud Aydid Dirir, declared that Bosaso cannot operate under two competing administrations, emphasizing the regional government's sole mandate over the strategic city. His statement follows an intensifying standoff between the Puntland Security Force (PSF) and the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), which has resulted in the closure of Bosaso Airport for the fourth consecutive day.
The crisis escalated earlier this week when the PSF imposed a security lockdown at Bosaso Airport, halting all flights and ordering civilians to vacate the area. The PSF accused the current airport administration of preventing their wounded soldiers from accessing the facility for medical evacuation to Mogadishu. "Let us not undermine the authority of governance," Dirir stated on Sunday. "Puntland has the mandate to govern Bosaso and all of Puntland. Anyone with grievances should pursue legal channels."
In an official statement, the PSF warned airlines against using Bosaso Airport until control is returned to its previous management. They insisted that the airport should be accessible to all Puntland residents, not just certain factions.
The current conflict between the PSF and PMPF in Bosaso points to a deeper power struggle within Puntland's security apparatus. The PSF, a U.S.-backed force managed by the Osman Diyaano family since its inception, is now at odds with the PMPF, a unit led by an officer closely affiliated with President Said Abdullahi Deni. This rift was further exacerbated when a family member of the PMPF director was reportedly kidnapped in Bosaso.
The security standoff has raised concerns about the potential impact on the ongoing battle against al-Shabab.