Sudan’s head of intelligence, Lt-Gen Ahmed Ibrahim Ali Mufaddal, toured Mogadishu on Wednesday in a trip laden with military significance.

Although Villa Somalia, the Somali presidency, said he came to deliver a message from Sudan’s military leader Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the visit came weeks after Khartoum blamed Puntland state for an indirect role in arming rebels in Sudan.

According to a statement from Villa Somalia, Mufaddal was received by his Somali counterpart, Mahad Mohamed Salad, before meeting with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

“During the meeting, Lt-Gen Mufaddal conveyed a message from the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan, HE Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, reaffirming Sudan’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation with Somalia in all areas of mutual interest,” the Somalia government dispatch read.

Mufaddal’s visit followed Sudan’s military government accusing Puntland of providing a landing base for mercenaries and arms for rebels in Sudan. The government claimed that the Port of Bosaso and the local airport had been used by Colombian mercenaries, as well as for shipping arms from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Sudan.

Some investigative journalists have also provided imagery of equipment stationed in Puntland. However, Puntland authorities vehemently deny the accusations. A statement from the Puntland Ministry of Information rejected Sudan’s allegations.

The Puntland state government has strong ties with the UAE, but frosty relations with Somalia's federal government after a disagreement over constitutional review.

The UAE, which has backed Puntland in its battle against ISIS militants, also rejects accusations of fuelling the war in Sudan.

When Khartoum first complained in late July, it asked Mogadishu to launch an immediate investigation into Puntland’s military activities.

Recently, however, relations between Puntland and Mogadishu were tested when Puntland stopped a ship destined for Mogadishu, alleging that there was no paperwork for its military cargo.

The war in Sudan between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has been ongoing since April 2023. Sudan's neighbours are now technically involved, either as hosts of refugees or accused of taking sides in the war.