Tensions Mount as Deni Returns to Mogadishu: Rift with UAE Grows Over Bosaso Base While Puntland Faces Financial Meltdown

Bosaso/Mogadishu – Tensions are rising between Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni and the United Arab Emirates amid increasing unease over the operations of the UAE military base at Bosaso Airport. Leaked sources indicate that President Deni is alarmed by the base’s expanding footprint, the international attention it is drawing, and the potential security consequences for Puntland.

Compounding the strain is Puntland’s worsening financial crisis. A prolonged counterterrorism campaign against ISIS militants in the Almiskat Mountains, now entering its fifth month, has drained government resources. Public employees remain unpaid for months, and the regional administration is grappling with severe economic distress.

In a significant political shift, President Deni is set to attend the upcoming National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting in Mogadishu—his first since boycotting the forum in December 2022 over disputes with the Somali Federal Government. The return, reportedly encouraged by international diplomats, is seen as a strategic move, especially as Puntland seeks financial support from international institutions, including the World Bank.

Chaired by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the NCC meeting aims to address key national issues, including electoral reforms, security coordination, and federal power-sharing arrangements. Deni’s presence is viewed as critical to reviving cooperative governance and stabilizing the relationship between the federal government and Puntland.

However, observers note that Deni’s motivations may be pragmatic rather than reconciliatory. With Puntland’s budget stretched thin and donor funding increasingly conditional, engagement in national-level forums could be essential for accessing much-needed international financial assistance.

Analysts warn that while diplomatic dialogue may resume in Mogadishu, the growing rift over foreign military influence in Bosaso and the deepening fiscal crisis in Puntland could overshadow any short-term political breakthroughs.