Bosaso, PUNTLAND – Last night, two former members of the disbanded Puntland Security Force (PSF) were injured in a violent altercation over the proceeds of their extortion racket. The clash occurred at a Khat shop near Bosaso General Hospital, where the group had been consolidating its illicit earnings. The confrontation escalated when one of the militiamen threw a hand grenade after the shopkeepers refused to pay the demanded extortion fees. This act of violence resulted in injuries to two civilians, as well as the two PSF men, when the traders retaliated.
Once a legitimate security force, the PSF was officially disbanded by Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni in 2021. Since then, it has devolved into a rogue militia that is not part of Puntland’s security architecture, deeply entrenched in criminal activities that have terrorized the region. The PSF has engaged in a broad spectrum of illegal enterprises, from threatening airlines and passengers at Bosaso Airport to arms smuggling, piracy, and extortion, particularly targeting businesses in Puntland. Their unchecked criminality has destabilized the region, undermining public security and eroding trust in Puntland’s governance.
The Metamorphosis of the PSF
The story of the PSF’s descent into criminality is a tragic tale of institutional failure, corruption, and the breakdown of the rule of law in Puntland. Established in 2002 with the support of the international community, the PSF was intended to serve as a professional and disciplined security force, tasked with maintaining law and order and combating the scourge of piracy that had long plagued the region.
For many years, the PSF played a crucial role in stabilizing Puntland, working alongside other security actors to protect the population and create an environment conducive to economic growth and development. However, over time, the force became increasingly politicized and corrupt, with its leadership often more concerned with advancing their own interests than serving the public good.
The disbandment of the PSF by President Deni in 2021 was a belated recognition of the force’s decline and the threat it posed to Puntland’s security. However, rather than dissolving quietly, the PSF has instead morphed into a rogue militia, using its weapons and training to terrorize the very people it was meant to protect.
The PSF’s involvement in extortion, particularly of Khat traders in Bosaso, is a stark illustration of the group’s predatory nature. The PSF has not only undermined the livelihoods of countless small businesses but also exposed the shocking extent of its criminal operations and the impunity with which it operates.
