Sunday January 26, 2025
FILE – Foreign fighters reportedly affiliated with ISIS in Puntland, Somalia. These individuals have been linked to the group’s operations in the Al Miskaad Mountains, where ISIS has maintained a presence since 2015, leveraging extortion and smuggling networks to fund their activities.
Bosaso (HOL) — Puntland authorities have launched a crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals in a bid to curb security risks, citing links between illegal migration and extremist activity in the region.
The directive from the Ministry of Interior prohibits undocumented individuals from residing in Puntland and bans the entry of illegal migrants. Officials have expressed growing concern over foreign nationals reportedly joining the ISIS militant group, which has been linked to destabilization in the region.
Security measures extend to telecommunications, with companies instructed to stop issuing SIM cards to individuals without verified identification. Existing unregistered phone accounts are also being deactivated.
The crackdown also targets drifters, who are now barred from occupying public spaces such as mosques, streets, and commercial centers. Additionally, small businesses operated by undocumented foreign nationals have been ordered to suspend operations until their legal status is verified.
The intensified measures follow a recent incident in Bosaso, where security forces fatally shot a Yemeni national attempting to plant a landmine. Authorities later uncovered hand grenades and bomb-making materials at the suspect’s residence. The individual reportedly disguised himself as a trader selling prayer beads and perfumes.
The new measures align with the region’s intensified counterterrorism campaign, Operation Hillaac, targeting ISIS hideouts in the Al Miskaad Mountains. Since establishing a foothold in Puntland’s remote terrain in 2015, ISIS has become a persistent threat, leveraging extortion and smuggling networks to fund its activities.
Puntland Minister of Information Mahmoud Aydid Dirir said that amnesty remains available to ISIS fighters, including foreign nationals, who willingly surrender.
At least six members of Puntland’s security forces were killed on Monday morning in a roadside explosion in the Bari region, according to local residents.
In December 2024, ISIS carried out a coordinated attack on a Puntland military base in Dharjaale, involving explosive-laden vehicles and 12 fighters, many of whom were foreign nationals. While Puntland security forces successfully repelled the assault, the incident underscored the group’s increasing audacity.
Puntland officials have described the initiative as essential to maintaining stability and preventing the region from becoming a safe haven for illegal activities.
