Report Raises Questions Over Mining Sector Communications in Milxo

Written by Abdiasis Farah Said

Milxo, Puntland — A communication analysis covering the period between 2022 and 2025 highlights frequent mobile phone contact between an alleged Al-Shabaab tax collector and individuals connected to mining operations in Milxo, prompting questions about oversight and transparency in the sector.
The analysis maps dozens of calls between the alleged tax collector’s primary phone and representatives of mining companies operating in the area. The highest volume of exchanges — 37 calls in one direction and 26 in the other — occurred between the alleged tax collector and a representative of Euro Mark Group in Somalia, who is also identified as an employee of Puntland’s Ministry of Energy, Minerals and Water.
Call Patterns Detailed
The data shows:
11 and 7 calls exchanged between the alleged tax collector and Mining Company Owner 1.
3 calls each way between the alleged tax collector and Mining Company Owner 2.
18 and 7 calls exchanged between Mining Company Owner 2 and the Euro Mark Group representative.
16 and 7 calls between Mining Company Owner 1 and the Euro Mark Group representative.
A secondary phone allegedly used by the tax collector placed three calls to the same representative.
The secondary phone also made calls in May 2020 to an Al-Shabaab commander reportedly based in the Golis Mountains.
The report notes that call frequency alone does not reveal the content or purpose of the communications.
Euro Mark’s Role
According to the report, Euro Mark is described as a UK-registered company operating in Puntland’s mining sector. The document further claims that the company was contracted through arrangements linked to the United Arab Emirates to develop or manage mining activities in the region. These claims have not been independently verified.
Political Sensitivities
The report also suggests that President Said Abdullahi Deni and members of his family may have had involvement or benefited from mining-related agreements, though no direct evidence is presented within the communication data itself. No official investigation or judicial findings have been publicly confirmed regarding these allegations.
Neither Euro Mark, UAE officials, nor representatives of the Puntland presidency have publicly responded to the claims referenced in the report at the time of writing.
Broader Concerns
Mining activities in Puntland have increasingly drawn scrutiny from civil society groups who argue that greater transparency is needed in contract disclosures, parliamentary oversight, and revenue reporting.
Security analysts caution that communication mapping alone cannot establish wrongdoing but may serve as a basis for further inquiry by relevant authorities.