Somalia: Puntland President in Bosaso, to oversee war on Al-Shabaab and ISIS

BOSASO, Somalia - The president of Puntland state Said Abdullahi Deni reached Bosaso, in what appears to be a familiarisation mission in the fight against Al-Shabaab and the IS Somalia militants, whose threat has caused concerns among members of the international community.

Deni will oversee a new military campaign in the mountainous Bari region where the militants are dominant, rallying for a common approach to the elimination of their presence. This strategic move indicates a significant governmental focus on enhancing security through direct presidential involvement in the efforts against these militant groups, analysts believe.

Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) and the Puntland Security Forces have been involved directly in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants and the IS-Somalia within the Bari region. The teams have recorded positive results in the past operations.

Al-Shabaab and IS-Somalia however, have been fighting against each other in recent years. Most fighters in IS-Somalia are defectors from the Al-Shabaab and they have narrowed their operations to northern Somalia, according to officials.

The trip comes after the US Africa Command commander Langley said ISIS doubled in seizure over the past year and warned about the possibility of Islamic State increasing its foreign fighters' presence in Northern

General Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), stated that the Islamic State group in Somalia has expanded over the past year. "I am concerned about the northern part of Somalia and ISIS growing in numbers," Langley said in an interview with VOA.

Langley indicated the group had grown "twofold" in the past year. He also warned about the potential increase in foreign fighters joining the Islamic State in Somalia.

The rise of Islamic State in northern Somalia coincides with Al-Shabab, an al-Qaida affiliate, exploiting diplomatic tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia to boost recruitment. Langley noted that al-Shabab has used the dispute over Ethiopia's port agreement with Somaliland "to their advantage."

Discussing the transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to a new mission in 2025, Langley ruled out U.S. involvement, stating, "Our piece of enabling is not our boots on the ground. We're there to advise and assist and assist in their training, but the fight is theirs."

GAROWE ONLINE