GAROWE (Somaliguardian) – Tensions continue to simmer in the coastal town of Bosaso and nearby towns in Somalia’s northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland after soldiers staged mutiny over the sacking of a senior military officer.
Members of Puntland Security Force (PSF) established defense lines in the coastal town and emptied front-line bases in mountainous bases, which are designed to prevent Al-Shabaab attacks on main cities in the region.
The military escalation was further aggravated by remarks of the region’s security minister, who threatened an action against the mutineers and warned former PSF commander – who is defiant to accept his dismissal – against attempts to destabilize the autonomous state.
There are reports that regional president Saeed Abdullahi Deni had taken the decision to sack PSF chief in an attempt to influence the upcoming parliamentary votes for MPs from the coastal town and nearby areas. PSF has earlier prevented region’s former president Abdiweli Ali Gas from influencing votes for a number of seats allocated for the Bari region.
Efforts led by regional leaders to bring an end to the tensions came to no avail after mutinous soldiers insisted on standing their ground.
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