Tensions between Somalia’s federal government and Puntland escalated further this week after Puntland authorities rejected recent claims by the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SODMA) and accused the federal body of dispatching expired food and medical supplies to the region.
The dispute centers on a recent aid delivery coordinated by SODMA amid ongoing humanitarian needs across Somalia. According to Puntland officials, portions of the assistance sent to the region were unfit for consumption — some items allegedly past their expiration dates.
SODMA had earlier claimed full coordination with Puntland authorities, stating that the aid was delivered as part of a nationwide relief initiative targeting drought- and conflict-affected communities. Puntland, however, dismissed those claims, calling them “fabricated” and “misleading,” insisting that no prior coordination occurred.
This incident adds to the growing list of grievances Puntland has leveled against Mogadishu in recent months, including allegations of constitutional overreach and exclusion from national decision-making processes.
Puntland’s Humanitarian Affairs Ministry
“The federal government’s actions are not only negligent but dangerous. Delivering expired supplies to vulnerable communities is unacceptable and indicative of broader dysfunction within SODMA.”
Federal officials have yet to formally respond to Puntland’s allegations. However, insiders close to the agency defended the operation, noting that all logistical standards were “in line with international procedures.”
The fallout from this latest accusation threatens to deepen mistrust between federal and regional authorities at a time when Somalia faces overlapping crises — including insurgency, food insecurity, and climate shocks. For international partners supporting Somalia’s humanitarian infrastructure, the dispute raises red flags about coordination gaps and accountability in aid distribution.
The episode also highlights the fragility of federalism in Somalia, where aid delivery — a seemingly apolitical function — can rapidly morph into a flashpoint for power struggles between Mogadishu and regional states like Puntland.
