Tuesday August 12, 2025
Garowe (HOL) — Puntland’s elite Dervish forces blocked key
roads leading to Garowe airport on Monday, halting flights and disrupting
transport between the semi-autonomous state’s regions in protest over months of
unpaid salaries.
The road closures stranded travelers and cut off access to
one of Puntland’s main transport hubs. Local sources said the protesting troops
are demanding immediate payment, citing repeated delays in wages.
The protest comes days after other Puntland soldiers
abandoned the Calmiskaat mountain frontlines over similar grievances. Those
troops were later granted two months of back pay.
Since President Said Abdullahi Deni’s re-election in 2024,
complaints of unpaid wages from both security forces and civil servants have
grown. Puntland officials blame financial shortfalls on declining domestic
revenues and reduced support from international donors.
Deni has said that 80% of Puntland’s budget is spent on
security, but wage disputes among the troops have become increasingly frequent,
raising concerns about morale and the region’s stability.
