Unpaid Soldiers Protest, Block Road to Puntland Presidency

Garowe, Puntland – December 27, 2023

Troops aligned with the Puntland presidency staged a protest today, blocking the main road leading to government centers and prominent hotels in Garowe. Armed with military vehicles, the soldiers, who claim they haven’t received salaries for several months, set up a checkpoint, disrupting public and administrative traffic.

The protesting soldiers allege that President Deni is diverting their wages to fund his election campaign, a claim vehemently denied by presidential officials. Efforts by army officers to persuade the protesters to reopen the road were rebuffed, heightening tensions.

This incident follows recent unrest at Garowe airport, where militia forces prevented the landing of a plane carrying Miraa. Their grievance centered on the arrest of an individual involved in importing khat from Kenya.

Criticism of President Deni is intensifying, with an announcement of his candidacy for a second term expected tomorrow night. The president faces scrutiny for the failure to pay salaries to civil servants and the military, who have reportedly gone unpaid for several months. The situation remains tense as the administration grapples with escalating discontent among its forces.