Puntland FMS President Said Deni Warns SSC-Khaatumo Against Expanding into Sanaag Region

President of Puntland Federal Member State of Somalia , Saiid Abdullaahi Deni, has issued a stern warning to the SSC-Khaatumo administration, urging it to remain within its current areas of control and avoid making moves into Sanaag region, which Puntland administration considers part of its territory.

Speaking in Qardho while dressed in military fatigues at a public event marking the graduation of new police recruits, President Deni delivered a pointed message to SSC-Khaatumo leadership:

“You’ve already overstepped once and we remained silent. But know this — Sanaag is Puntland. If you cross that line again, the matter will turn into something you will not deserve.”

The remarks come amid growing political tension in northern Somalia, where the SSC-Khaatumo administration—a newly forming Federal Member State—has been pushing to rally support from communities in Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn regions. Just days earlier, SSC-Khaatumo leaders called on residents of Sanaag to join their administration, prompting a strong reaction from Garowe.

President Deni’s warning underscores the fragile nature of inter-regional boundaries in Somalia and reflects Puntland’s long-standing claim over Sanaag, an area that has often been at the center of territorial disputes.

As both Puntland State and SSC-Khaatumo claim influence over overlapping territories, observers are raising concerns that the growing rhetoric may escalate into clashes or political fragmentation, especially if efforts to reconcile the rival administrations continue to falter.

The Somali Federal Government has yet to formally comment on the dispute, but with regional actors now issuing open threats, national dialogue and mediation are increasingly being seen as necessary to prevent further instability.