In a sharp rebuke to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Somaliland’s Ministry of Defence has dismissed reports suggesting that recent airstrikes targeting ISIS militants struck the Golis Mountains within its territory. According to Somaliland, the actual strikes occurred in the Galgala Mountains, part of the Puntland region of Somalia, not in Somaliland’s jurisdiction.
The misidentification of the strike location has sparked tensions over the sensitive territorial boundaries between Somaliland and Puntland. While the Golis range traverses both regions, Somaliland insists the Galgala Mountains—where the strikes reportedly took place—are firmly in Puntland, near the Bari region’s town of Galgala.
Somaliland’s leadership emphasized the importance of precise boundary recognition in its ongoing quest for international recognition. The statement reaffirmed Somaliland’s commitment to counterterrorism efforts and its partnership with the U.S. in promoting regional stability.
By challenging AFRICOM’s report, Somaliland seeks to assert its territorial integrity and strengthen its international position, demanding clarity and respect for its borders. The incident underscores the volatile geopolitics of the Horn of Africa, where every square kilometer carries strategic significance.
