MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – The United States military has signed a new security agreement with Puntland, Somalia’s northeastern federal member state, bypassing the federal government in Mogadishu altogether – a move analysts describe as the clearest evidence yet of a hardening American “dual-track” policy toward Somalia, driven by Washington’s mounting exasperation with the political infighting paralysing the capital and undercutting the broader war against Al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia.
Wararka Soomaaliya
The agreement was signed on Sunday during talks in the port city of Bosaso between Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni and a high-level American delegation from the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), led by Major General Claude Tudor, commander of AFRICOM’s Special Operations component.
“The President of the Puntland State, H.E Said Abdullahi Deni, together with ministers, military officers, and advisors, held a meeting in Bosaso with a delegation from the United States Government, especially AFRICOM, led by Major General Claude Tudor, Commander of AFRICOM Special Operations,” Deni said in a statement posted on X.
“The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between Puntland and the United States, especially in fighting terrorism and improving security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,” he added.
Faahfaahinta
Bosaso Base Set for Expansion
Puntland’s leadership confirmed that the centrepiece of the talks was a new deal to expand the American military footprint at Bosaso and deepen maritime security cooperation — a move widely expected to support operations against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, a scenario long anticipated by regional observers.
“Puntland and the United States also signed a new agreement to expand their cooperation. Under the agreement, the United States will expand its military base in Bosaso to improve operations against terrorism and to help protect maritime security,” Deni said.
Saamaynta
Somaliland Talks Mirror Puntland Deal
The same US delegation had, days earlier, held parallel talks with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and members of his cabinet on August 1 in Hargeisa.
Somaliland officials said security cooperation and maritime security dominated the discussion – the very themes underpinning the Puntland agreement.
Wararka.so waxay kuu soo tebineysaa wararka ugu dambeeyey ee Soomaaliya iyo caalamka. Si aad ula socoto wararkii ugu dambeeyey, booqo boggayaga.
