Somalia: Puntland Clashes Show Growing Al-Shabaab Threat
| Publisher | Jamestown Foundation |
| Author | Alexander Sehmer |
| Publication Date | 15 April 2016 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 8 |
| Cite as | Jamestown Foundation, Somalia: Puntland Clashes Show Growing Al-Shabaab Threat, 15 April 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 8, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5724deeb4.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Link to original story on Jamestown website
Government forces in Somalia claim to have killed more than 100 al-Shabaab fighters in a major clash in Puntland, located in the country's northeast. A further 59 fighters were captured-among them, several foreign fighters including three Kenyans (Daily Nation, April 7). The attack is a blow to the Somali militant group and will be celebrated by Kenya, which suffered severe casualties in a devastating al-Shabaab attack on its forces in January (Daily Nation, January 16). However, it should be a cause for concern that fighting is moving north.
Puntland had enjoyed relative calm amid Somalia's insurgency up until recent months. In March, dozens of al-Shabaab militants seized the coastal town of Garcad, with locals accusing the Puntland administration of failing to put up a fight (Horseed Media, March 15). Later that same month, a suspected al-Shabaab suicide bomber detonated near a popular teashop in Galkayo, killing at least six people (Garowe Online, March 31).
For some, Al-Shabaab's movement toward the north is seen as a response to the group losing ground to African Union forces (AMISOM) further south, though AMISOM's success should not be overstated. The AMISOM forces, which have been in the country for more than nine years, are still not as effective as they should be. There was an announcement earlier this month, however, that AMISOM, alongside Somali forces, had killed six Al-Shabaab commanders, indicating that the forces have found some measure of success (AMISOM, April 4).
Among the militants AMISOM claimed it to have killed was a Yemeni bomb-maker identified as "Abu Islam" and-more significantly-Hassan Ali Dhoore, a leader with the group's Amniyat intelligence arm. Dhoore is thought to have played a key role in the 2014 Christmas Day attack on AMISOM forces at Mogadishu airport. Dhoore's killing was also claimed by the U.S. in its announcement that he had been killed in U.S. drone strike on March 31 (India.com, April 5). The Pentagon later confirmed Dhoore's death. Al-Shabaab maintains the others claimed by AMISOM are merely propaganda.
