Garowe residents and the Somali Digest have been debunking the myth of salary delays and road closures in Puntland. The latest reports from Puntland indicate a minor road closure connecting Garowe and Galkayo, primarily impacting trucks and other vehicles transporting goods. However, public transportation between these two towns continues to operate without interruption.
Garowe, Puntland, SOMALIA. By Dalmar:
Earlier this week, some media reported that the current Puntland leadership has failed to pay salaries of the security forces and civil servants “for almost a year”. It was supposed to lead to “mutiny in the capital Garowe and other key towns, including Galkayo.” The claims have been false from several perspectives.
Firstly, Galkayo only partially belongs under the Puntland administration. The city is the capital of Galmudug’s Mudug region. A loose boundary divides it into two administrative areas. Puntland fully controls Garsoor, Israac, and Horumar quarters; Galmudug controls Wadajir.
Secondly, the recent mutiny in the capital, Garowe, was not caused by alleged salary delays. A militia sponsored by the Aran Jaan political group clashed with Puntland’s security forces. The security forces successfully defended the local parliament, pushing the militia back and compelling their withdrawal from the city. The opposition groups and their militias had accused Puntland’s President Said Abdullahi Deni of preparing to extend his term, something he repeatedly denied.
No roadblocks, no salary delays
The Somali Digest interviewed a Garowe resident, who affirmed that his relative successfully travelled from Galkayo yesterday without encountering any issues.
We couldn’t confirm the alleged salary delay that some soldiers complained about. However, the situation is evidently not as dire as certain media outlets portray it. Although delays do occur, they no longer extend beyond a few months. The present Puntland administration has registered its workforce and initiated salary disbursements through its bank accounts, highlighting the significant progress achieved compared to the previous administrations.
The previous Puntland administration had a history of substantial salary delays, occasionally stretching even up to seven months. Nevertheless, the government, under the leadership of President Said Abdullahi Deni, consistently ensures timely payment.
