By Dalmar, 25 June 2023
GAROWE – In a broad reshuffle of key positions in Puntland’s government, President Said Abdullahi Deni issued a series of presidential decrees on the night of June 24, redefining the regional law enforcement landscape. The shakeup in regional police divisions and top-tier government officials comes in the aftermath of last week’s failed insurrection.
According to the decrees, the commanders of police divisions in Nugal, Karkaar, Gardafuu, and Sanaag, as well as the Danab Commandos’ commander have been replaced:
- Lieutenant General Mohamed Ali Ahmed is now the Commander of the Nugal Region Police Department.
- Former Nugal Police Division commander, Lieutenant General Hussein Ali Mohamud, has been assigned as the Chief of Karkar Police.
- Lieutenant General Adan Ahmed Ali is appointed as the Commander of the Sanaag Region Police Division.
- Lieutenant Colonel Qasim Jama Shire is named the Commander of the Danab Commandos.
- Lieutenant General Fu’ad Mahmoud Hussein is designated as the Commander of the Gardafu Region Police Department.
In tandem with the reshuffle within the law enforcement, Puntland’s regional governance also witnessed significant changes. Notably, Omar Osman Said has been appointed as the Governor of Gardafu, and Abdirahman Abshir Farah is stepping into the role of the Governor of Nugal Region. Further, in Nugal, Mukhtar Farah Jeer and Abdirahman Isse Mohamed (Barir) have been appointed as the 1st and 2nd Deputy Governors, respectively. These changes mark a significant reshaping of Puntland’s regional administrative structure.
Alongside these sweeping changes in regional leadership, President Deni appointed an Accountant General for Puntland, Directors General for several ministries, and two presidential advisors – one for Internal Affairs and Security and another for Media and Information Affairs.
These appointments come in response to a failed insurrection last week by the militias of Aran Jaan, led by dismissed Danab Commander Jimale Jama Takar. The attempt to destabilize Puntland was ultimately thwarted, but not without raising serious allegations. There are claims that the planning for this unrest was not initiated in Puntland but rather in Mogadishu, with financial backing provided to the Aran Jaan militia by the Federal Government of Somalia.
These allegations, coupled with the recent reshuffle of key positions, underscore the ongoing turbulence in Puntland’s political landscape. With the region now focused on recovery and the newly appointed officials settling into their roles, the upcoming weeks will prove critical in shaping the region’s stability and resilience.
