Garowe (Dawan Africa) – Puntland’s Minister of Interior has sharply criticized the lifting of the United Nations arms embargo on Somalia, calling it a “grave mistake” that endangers national stability and empowers militant groups such as Al-Shabaab and ISIS.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the minister accused the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) of failing to build a united and secure state 34 years after the civil war, and warned that Somalia “remains a threat to itself and to the world.”
“It was a major mistake to lift the arms embargo while Somalia is still divided and remains vulnerable to misuse or diversion of weapons into enemy hands like Al-Shabaab or ISIS,” the minister stated.
Puntland alleges that the FGS has not only failed to uphold its post-conflict responsibilities but has also actively undermined the federal system. The minister cited incidents in Raaskambooni (Jubaland, December 2024) and Dhahar (Puntland, July 2025), alleging that federal officials, including army officers, ministers, and lawmakers, were involved in “inciting local unrest and disrupting Puntland’s security operations.”
The statement further condemned what it described as a unilateral approach to international aid and arms support:
“It is another serious mistake to engage Somalia through one party alone (the FGS), allowing foreign assistance to become a political tool for marginalization and suppression,” the minister added.
He described President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration as the “greatest threat” to Somalia’s state-building process since the 2000 Carta Conference, blaming it for blocking reconciliation and dismantling federal governance.
Puntland is now calling for an urgent international review of the arms embargo decision and is urging external partners to mediate between Somalia’s opposing political forces instead of siding exclusively with the central government.
The statement comes amid rising tensions between Puntland and the Federal Government, particularly following armed confrontations in Dhahar and renewed disputes over resource distribution and constitutional authority.
