Al-shabaab Sponsors “Fake Outcry” Against Puntland Counterterrorism Measures

[Deeq A.]

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — Al-shabaab, the proscribed Somalia-based terrorism outfit, had put pressure on families and relatives of some of convicted terrorists whom Puntland State executed by firing squad several weeks ago in Galka’yo, Garowe and Qardho.

Men claiming to be elders and relatives of the executed men have spoken to the media and claimed “their sons were framed up and tortured to confess to crimes they had not committed in the first place.” A Puntland Martial Court spokesman said that they had conducted thorough investigations into all cases and interviewed key members of Al-Shabaab ringleaders in North Galkayo before implementing death sentences passed by the court.

An elder from Beledweyne accusing Puntland of miscarriage of justice

“Top ringleaders of the convicted terrorists belonged to Puntland clans. As we know Al-shabaab recruits from all Somali clans stealthily. Al-shabaab assassins and assistant assassins do not care clan identity, age or reputation of their targets once they have received the green light to murder innocent people” a security analyst told Puntland Post.

“We have to commend Puntland for putting terrorists on trial. Al-shabaab has sponsored men who claim that Puntland has executed innocent people from Southern Somalia” said a traditional leader from Galmudug.

Sanyare: “We are at war with terrorists.”

Puntland-appointed Mudug Governor Abdilatif Sanyare rejected accusations that Puntland had executed innocent people.

“We are fighting terrorists. We are not at war with Somalis. We will not be intimidated by statements from people whom Al-shabaab instructed to hold press conferences to defend convicted terrorists recruited and funded by Al-shabaab to open a butcher’s shop as a cover for terrorist operations ” said Sanyare.

© Puntland Post, 2021

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