Somalia’s Puntland administration has placed its forces on full alert, warning President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud against a reported visit to the divided city of Galkayo and accusing him of seeking to provoke conflict. In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, Puntland said it was closely monitoring what it described as preparations to inflame tensions. The administration expressed particular concern about reported plans for Mohamud to travel to the Galmudug-administered southern half of Galkayo, although it provided no evidence to support its allegation that he intends to create discord and conflict. The federal presidency has not publicly confirmed whether Galkayo is on Mohamud’s itinerary, and Villa Somalia issued no immediate response to the accusations. Mohamud was due to travel to Dhusamareb, the capital of Galmudug, for political meetings and official engagements. Puntland also told residents to prepare for further security measures, particularly in Galkayo and surrounding areas, and appealed to Somalis, neighbouring countries and the international community to hold Mohamud responsible for any discord or conflict it said could result from his actions. The warning comes amid an increasingly bitter confrontation between Garowe and Mogadishu. The dispute now encompasses control of security forces alongside constitutional and electoral disagreements. Puntland said in May that it no longer recognised Mohamud as Somalia’s legitimate president, arguing that his original four-year mandate expired on May 15. Opponents of constitutional amendments approved by parliament in March argue that changes to the political system and election timetable required broader national consensus. Puntland consequently refers to Mohamud as the “former president” in its official statements, while the federal government and its institutions continue to recognise him as Somalia’s head of state. The tensions turned violent earlier this month. Just over a week before the latest warning, Puntland forces seized a military camp in northern Galkayo near Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed Airport that was held by fighters aligned with the federal government. After hours of heavy fighting, Puntland said it detained 101 fighters and took dozens of wounded men into custody. The confrontation followed a dispute over a federal arms shipment that Puntland said had passed through southern Galkayo on its way to forces operating in Puntland territory. Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni described the August 5 assault as a planned security operation, accusing Mogadishu of transporting weapons, military equipment and troops to the camp to undermine Puntland’s security and stability. The federal government rejected Puntland’s portrayal of the forces. Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said they had joined the Somali National Army and argued that Somali soldiers had the right to serve in the federal armed forces without that decision being treated as an attack on Puntland. Galkayo remains particularly sensitive because Puntland administers its north and Galmudug its south. After repeated fighting, the two administrations signed a ceasefire in December 2015 and pursued further agreements following renewed violence in 2016. Since then, local leaders, elders and security officials from both sides have worked to prevent disputes from turning the city into a major battlefield again. In its latest statement, Puntland praised Galmudug authorities and southern Galkayo residents for helping preserve peace while directing its accusations at the federal president. The renewed alert deepens concern that the political confrontation between Garowe and Mogadishu could once again place security pressure on a city shared by the two regional administrations.