Mogadishu, Somalia — A U.S. airstrike targeting Islamic State (IS) leaders and bases in Puntland’s rugged mountains has triggered an unexpected political firestorm between Somali leaders, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Puntland’s state leader, Said Abdullahi Deni, both seeking credit for the operation.
The strike, authorized by the new U.S. President Donald J. Trump, was part of a broader counterterrorism campaign against IS fighters entrenched in the Almiskat mountain range.
However, instead of a unified response celebrating a strategic victory against jihadist forces, the aftermath has become a battleground for political posturing.
A Battle Over Credit
In a statement posted on X, President Mohamud claimed that Washington had informed his government in advance, suggesting federal authorities played a key role in the operation.
“President Hassan was informed of the U.S. strike targeting senior ISIS leadership in northern Somalia this evening. He acknowledges the unwavering support of the United States in the fight against international terrorism and welcomes the continued commitment under the decisive leadership of President Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump).” He said in a brief statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
His message was amplified by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and other senior officials in Mogadishu.
Meanwhile, Puntland’s President Said Abdullahi Deni, whose forces have been engaged in intense fighting with IS militants for weeks, carefully avoided mentioning the Mogadishu-based federal government in his statement posted on X.
Instead, he directly thanked the U.S. for the precision strikes, implying that Washington had coordinated exclusively with his administration.
“We commend the decisive U.S. military action against ISIS in #Puntland and deeply appreciate the steadfast support of @realDonaldTrump, @USAfricaCommand, and @USEmbassySomalia in our shared fight against terrorism.,” Deni said in a statement on X.
Deni’s strategic ambiguity underscores Puntland’s broader political stance—asserting its autonomy from Somalia’s federal government while bolstering its own security credentials.
Political Fractures on Display
The dispute has laid bare the deepening rift between Mogadishu and Puntland, a semi-autonomous region that has long pushed back against federal control.
While tensions have simmered for years, the latest episode has reinforced the perception that Somalia’s leadership remains fractured, even in matters of national security.
“The bigger issue here is not just the credit war,” said Ahmed Yusuf, a Somali political analyst.
“It’s the fact that Mogadishu and Puntland are unable to cooperate on counterterrorism efforts, which plays into the hands of terrorist groups.”
The rivalry has also spilled onto social media, where supporters of both leaders have launched verbal attacks and counterclaims, diverting public discourse from the actual significance of the U.S. operation.
Instead of focusing on the elimination of key IS operatives, much of the online conversation has devolved into partisan debates about jurisdiction, legitimacy, and power.
U.S. Concerns and Broader Implications
While Washington has yet to publicly comment on the political fallout, experts suggest that the U.S. may view the distraction as counterproductive to its counterterrorism efforts.
From the U.S. perspective, experts say the priority is eliminating terrorist threats, not navigating Somali political disputes,”
“When Somali leaders fight over credit rather than coordinate security efforts, it complicates future cooperation.” Said a former Somali security official who has closely worked with the U.S on Somali security matters in the past.
The situation also raises concerns about Somalia’s ability to maintain stability in the long term.
Puntland has been one of Somalia’s more stable regions, effectively governing itself and taking a hardline stance against terrorist groups.
However, if tensions with Mogadishu continue to escalate, it could further weaken national cohesion and embolden jihadist factions that thrive on political divisions.
A Missed Opportunity?
For many observers, the controversy highlights a missed opportunity for Somalia’s leaders to project unity against IS at a time when regional security is under threat.
“This could have been framed as a major victory for Somalia’s fight against terrorism,” said a security expert based in Nairobi. “Instead, it’s become another episode in a long-running political feud.”
In the aftermath of the public spectacle, the question raised by many remains whether Somalia’s leaders will move beyond their political squabbles to focus on the larger threat at hand — or if the divisions will persist, to the benefit of their common enemy.
