Somalia, 21 September 2025 – Puntland authorities have announced the creation of a new military unit dedicated to protecting the Federal Member State's fragile environment.
Puntland Vice President, Ilyas Osman Lugatoor, said the new unit will be mandated to combat deforestation and safeguard valuable natural resources.
“Puntland has just completed the training of 1,000 soldiers, half of whom are university graduates. Of these, 180 will be assigned to environmental protection and combating deforestation,” Lugatoor said at the opening of the Annual Peace Conference in Garowe on Sunday.
The Vice President added that the initiative is part of Puntland's strategy to link security with environmental reliance.
The conference, organized by the Puntland Development Research Centre (PDRC), a non-governmental organization engaged in research and peacebuilding, runs from September 21–23 under the theme ‘Climate, Peace, and Security: Building a Peaceful and Resilient Future.’