Military court in Puntland steps in over Deni-Diano row as talks open

GOOBJOOG NEWS|BOSASO: The Couts Martial in Puntland has intervened in the ongoing tussle between President Abdullahi Deni and sacked Puntland Security Forces (PSF) commandant Mohamed Diano warning the soldiers allied to Diano will face the law.

The military court issued a statement Friday noting that the Armed Forces Penal Code will be applied to prosecute the dissenting soldiers. It noted that Deni was empowered by the State Constitution as the Commander-In-Chief to hire at fire security forces.

The Court also directed the new PSF commandant General Amin Abdullahi Haji Kheir to ensure that all property of the force is protected.

The intervention of the Court follows a nearly one-month long row between Diano, backed by elders from his clan and Deni following the sacking of Diano on November 24. The embattled axed commandant declined to leave office leading to a standoff in Bosaso where the PSF is headquartered.

Sections of the PSF allied themselves with Diano while others pledged allegiance to General Kheir sparking a standoff in the coastal city. However, elders from Diano’s clan issued a statement on Thursday acceding to his removal but on condition that he remains with some of the property including weapons and houses.

However, Deni fired back rejecting the proposal adding that the property belonged to the PSF and not individual officers escalating the differences between the two sides.

It is now emerging that the two sides have had a window of talks with sources saying they have struck a deal on some issues including leaving Diano with some weapons. The deal, sources added was informed by the fact that the Diano family whose land the PSF reportedly occupies had accepted to donate part of it to the PSF.

Diano took over the PSF leadership in January 2019 following the resignation of his brother Assad Diano who is reportedly allied to outgoing President Mohamed Farmaajo and has been actively engaged in local politics recently.