The Puntland Dervish Force or Puntland Defence Forces (PDF, , ) is the official armed forces of the Puntland Government.
History Following the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991, a homegrown constitutional conference was held in Garowe in 1998 over a period of three months.de Waal, "The Real Politics of the Horn of Africa," 2015. Attended by the area's political elite, traditional elders (Issims), members of the business community, intellectuals and other civil society representatives, the autonomous Puntland State of Somalia was subsequently officially established so as to deliver services to the population, offer security, facilitate trade, and interact with both domestic and international partners. The Puntland Security Force (PSF) was subsequently formed by the regional government.
Since the founding of the state in 1998, the Puntland Dervish Force has operated in Puntland and throughout Somalia. Commanders and senior officials of the military are appointed by a qualified panel approved by the Council of Ministers.
The Puntland security apparatus has an independent military judiciary, which during peacetime only adjudges military proceedings. Retired members of the Force are also constitutionally guaranteed pensions.
Equipment Individual Weapons Assault Rifle AKM (Assault Rifle – 7.62×39mm) AK-74 (Assault Rifle – 5.45×39mm) PK machine gun (General-purpose machine gun – 7.62×54mmR) Sniper Rifle SVD Dragunov (Sniper Rifle – 7.62×54mmR) Anti-Tank Explosive RPG-7 (rocket-propelled grenade launcher – 40 mm) Vehicles Main Battle Tank T-54/T-55 Armoured Personnel Carrier BTR-60 Fiat 6614 Military trucks Renault GBC 180 (6×6) M939 Truck (6×6) Pickup trucks Toyota Land Cruiser J79 Toyota Hilux Nissan Frontier Armored Ford F350 Gun Truck Artillery and heavy machine guns Heavy machine guns 12.7mm DShK 12.7mm NSV Self-Propelled Artillery 122mm BM-21 Grad Multiple Rocket Launcher Mortar 60mm M-224 Anti-Aircraft Gun ZU-23-2
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