Saturday May 24, 2025
Garowe (HOL) – A land dispute has erupted between the Puntland and SSC-Khaatumo administrations over contested territory along their shared border, heightening tensions between the two regions.
The standoff intensified on Friday when Puntland dispatched troops to the Shaxda area in the Karkaar region, following the arrival of SSC-Khaatumo forces the previous day. According to a statement from the Puntland police, armed militias from Taleeh—aligned with SSC-Khaatumo— secretly entered Shaxda, raising the alarm in Garowe.
Shaxda lies near the Sool region, a territory long disputed by multiple administrations. While Somaliland previously claimed Shaxda, Puntland now accuses SSC-Khaatumo of attempting to seize land considered part of its jurisdiction.
Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mahmoud Aydiid Dirir, publicly condemned SSC-Khaatumo’s actions, accusing its leadership of trying to carve out Puntland territory, a move he described as “unacceptable and provocative.”
Relations between Puntland and SSC-Khaatumo have been souring since Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s visit to Las Anod, which Puntland viewed as a political endorsement of SSC-Khaatumo’s autonomy.
Puntland still regards SSC-Khaatumo as part of its administration, despite recent developments.
The situation is further complicated by the federal government’s official recognition of SSC-Khaatumo as a member of the federal structure—a move Puntland has not publicly endorsed or welcomed.
Although Puntland previously supported SSC-Khaatumo during its conflict with Somaliland, which resulted in SSC-Khaatumo gaining control of much of Sool and Sanaag, the emerging territorial rivalry is now threatening to unravel that alliance. Observers warn the dispute could lead to armed confrontation if diplomatic efforts are not urgently pursued.
