Puntland Orders Crackdown on Illegal Arms and Clan Conflict

Bosaso, 2 September 2026 Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has ordered security agencies to seize illegal weapons and take legal action against people involved in clan violence, as the federal state seeks to strengthen security in the strategic Bari region. Deni chaired a security meeting attended by government and parliamentary officials, military commanders, and representatives from Bari region and the port city of Bosaso, the Puntland presidency said in a statement on Tuesday. The meeting ordered authorities to enforce a ban on carrying illegal weapons in Puntland's cities and take legal action against anyone involved in the importation, sale or use of unauthorized weapons, the statement said. Authorities were also ordered to act against people involved in organising or fuelling clan conflicts. Puntland said it would accelerate operations against militant groups across its territory and ordered security agencies to prevent the import, sale and use of drugs and alcohol.