Puntland State Launches Counterterrorism Operations Against ISIS

[Deeq A.]

Puntland Defence Forces aim to eradicate terrorist hideouts in mountainous areas.

Garowe (PP Editorial) — The counterterrorism operation launched by the Puntland State Defence Force against ISIS and affiliated groups in the mountainous areas of Bari stands as a commendable example of effective anti-terror strategies. Under President Abdullahi Deni, Puntland developed robust policies to combat terror groups, including a zero-tolerance approach toward terrorists and their enablers, which has yielded significant results.

In Galkayo, Puntland security forces conducted a two-year investigation that dismantled Al-Shabaab cells responsible for acts of terror since 2007. Over 20 ringleaders were tried, found guilty and executed. Al-Shabaab had employed a secret  recruitment and compartmentalised operation model, with assassins, surveillance operatives and hosts working without mutual knowledge. These cells, managed by senior Al-Shabaab officers in Lower Shabelle and Middle Juba, terrorised North Galkayo for over 12 years. Puntland’s decisive action broke this cycle of violence.

The enduring lesson from anti-terror operations in North Mudug is the importance of fostering public confidence in the authorities’ ability to combat terrorism. Terror groups rely on local enablers. Novel intelligence-gathering efforts by Puntland State security forces have prioritised preventive measures over reactive responses.

In 2016, residents of coastal areas in Mudug and Nugaal repelled an Al-Shabaab attack. More than 200 fighters surrendered. One-third of the detainees were children under 15 years old.

The newly declared counterterrorism operation by Puntland State follows a familiar pattern. Puntland Defence Forces aim to eradicate terrorist hideouts in mountainous areas. Despite limited resources, Puntland’s anti-terror strategies — grounded in community ownership — are redefining the fight against transnational terror groups that exploit fear and division. The days of ISIS terrorists hiding in Bari are coming to an end.

© Puntland Post, 2024

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