Sunday March 23, 2025
Garowe (HOL) – At least two soldiers were killed and five others wounded on Saturday during a clash between Puntland Police and an armed group in Garowe.
In a statement released late Saturday, the Puntland Police Force Command said the confrontation occurred during a planned operation to recover a bus allegedly stolen from the Puntland Audit Office. The vehicle, according to police, was being driven by a group impersonating law enforcement personnel and believed to be linked to the defunct Puntland Security Force (PSF).
Authorities said the vehicle was intercepted at Garowe’s East Control Point while being escorted by another car carrying armed men. When police attempted to stop the vehicles, the armed men opened fire, triggering a shootout that left two police officers dead and five others injured.
“The Puntland Police Force, fulfilling its constitutional duty to ensure security and uphold the rule of law, responded swiftly, seizing both vehicles and arresting those involved in this criminal act,” the statement read.
The police noted that the suspects are in custody and vowed to bring them to justice. “No one is above the law. Anyone who attempts to disrupt public security or abuse the power of the government will be held accountable,” the statement added.
The PSF has not commented on the alleged theft or the deadly confrontation.
The incident raises concerns over renewed tensions between Puntland authorities and the PSF, who have clashed with government forces in the past, most notably in the port city of Bosaso in late 2021.
