Somalia: Puntland seizes second federal camp, alleges China-donated arms diverted

On Aug 6, 2026

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Northeastern Somalia’s Puntland security forces seized a second military camp belonging to federal government-aligned troops within 24 hours on Thursday, capturing a command centre in the commercial port city of Bosaso a day after a fierce gun battle handed regional forces control of a federal base in the central town of Galkayo – a battle that Puntland officials say produced physical evidence of Mogadishu diverting Chinese-donated police weapons and Defence Ministry arms to forces working against the region.

Why This Matters

Puntland has functioned as a semi-autonomous state within the Somali federation for decades, maintaining its own security forces and periodically clashing with Mogadishu over the limits of federal authority in its territory. The events described here – camp seizures, prisoner counts and a public ultimatum – represent a sharp escalation in that long-running tension, and the weapons allegation, if substantiated, would mark one of the more serious accusations Garowe has levelled at the federal government in recent memory.

The Bosaso Seizure

Regional police said in a statement that the camp seized in Bosaso included a military command centre belonging to the PSF force, which had aligned itself with the federal government. Troops stationed inside surrendered without a fight, the statement said, allowing Puntland forces to take the position.

The Galkayo Battle and Prisoner Count

The Bosaso operation followed a considerably bloodier confrontation a day earlier in Galkayo, where regional forces stormed a federal troops’ base, triggering intense fighting. Regional authorities said 101 federal fighters were captured uninjured, while a further 60 were taken prisoner after sustaining injuries in the clash – putting the total number of prisoners of war from the Galkayo operation, by Puntland’s own count, at more than 160.

Weapons Cache and the China-Donation Allegation

Puntland forces also recovered a substantial cache of weapons, police uniforms and other military equipment from the Galkayo base, regional officials said. Among the seized matériel, authorities said, were arms recently donated by China to Somalia’s police forces, along with boxes of weapons marked with the insignia of Somalia’s Ministry of Defence, which regional officials displayed to journalists.

Puntland authorities alleged the markings point to a deliberate diversion of federal assistance: rather than reaching regional forces engaged in the fight against militant groups, they said, the weapons were instead funnelled to units they accuse Mogadishu of using to undermine security in the region and distract from counter-terrorism efforts. Neither the claim of diversion nor the origin of the weapons has been independently verified, and the federal government has not responded to the allegation as of Thursday.

Deni’s Warning

Speaking on Wednesday after the Galkayo operation, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni described the assault as a clear warning to anyone seeking to destabilise the regional administration, cautioning that any force siding with Mogadishu to foment unrest or chaos within Puntland’s territory would meet the same fate. He thanked regional security forces for what he called the successful and disciplined execution of the “law enforcement operation.”

What Happens Next

Puntland’s regional government has since issued an ultimatum to other federal-aligned forces stationed in towns across the territory, giving them 24 hours to surrender or face a similar outcome to those overrun in Galkayo. As of Thursday, Mogadishu has issued no public response to the ultimatum, to the loss of the two camps, or to the weapons allegation.

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