The Government of Puntland has issued a strong statement denying allegations that its territory or facilities have been used in connection with the ongoing civil war in Sudan, dismissing the claims from Mogadishu as “baseless propaganda.”
In a press release from the Ministry of Federal Interior and Democracy, Puntland rejected reports that Bossaso Airport is being used as a launch site for air operations or mercenary flights allegedly linked to the United Arab Emirates.
The administration emphasized that Puntland “has no reason or interest to be involved in Sudan’s internal conflict,” describing Sudan as a “brotherly nation to Somalia and the wider Muslim world.”
“The Puntland government categorically denies any involvement in the civil war in Sudan or that Bossaso Airport is being used for airstrikes,” the statement read. “We strongly condemn the Federal Government for its defamatory propaganda and unfounded accusations against Puntland.”
The remarks come two days after Somalia’s Federal Government claimed that aircraft had taken off from Bossaso bound for Sudan, though it provided no evidence to substantiate the claim.
Puntland officials said the allegations were politically motivated, designed to discredit their regional administration amid ongoing tensions with Mogadishu.
Puntland’s statement accused the federal authorities of trying to divert attention from domestic failures and to “distort the historical achievements” of Puntland’s own counterterrorism operations, particularly its recent offensives against al-Shabaab militants in the Al Miskaad mountains of Bari Region.
Officials in Garowe described the federal government’s claim as “cheap propaganda,” arguing that Puntland’s focus remains on safeguarding its territory, maintaining stability, and contributing to Somalia’s broader security — not meddling in foreign conflicts.
The press release also underscored Puntland’s longstanding diplomatic principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, reaffirming that its cooperation with international partners — including the UAE — is “transparent and consistent with Somalia’s national interest.”
While Somalia’s Ministry of Defense has not offered further clarification, the exchange underscores deepening mistrust between Mogadishu and Puntland, which has increasingly operated with de facto autonomy after suspending ties with the federal government in 2023.
As Sudan’s civil war continues to draw in regional actors, Puntland’s categorical denial reflects a desire to shield itself from regional power struggles and avoid becoming another arena in the Horn of Africa’s widening proxy tensions.
