Puntland to Support Somali Government in Fight Against Al-Shabaab Militants

BOSASO, Somalia - After a series of successes in the war against ISIS militants in the Calmiskat mountains, Puntland has pledged to assist southern Somalia in facing the al-Shabaab group, which has recently made significant gains following victories against the Somalia National Army (SNA) in Middle Shabelle.

Puntland forces, without assistance from the federal government, managed to rein on the ISIS militants in the Cal-Miskaad mountains, marking a significant victory against the group, which had made some gains within the Bari region.

On Saturday, Puntland leader Said Abdullahi Deni said the state has options of sending troops to southern regions to help the federal government fight the al-Shabaab militants, but Mogadishu must wait until the Operation Hilaac [Lightning] is concluded.

During the graduation of new PMPF forces, Deni reaffirmed Puntland’s commitment to Somalia’s unity, noting that Puntland cannot watch the country being overrun by the Al-Shabaab militants.

“Puntland is part of Somalia,” he said while pledging to chip in and assist the country in bringing law and order. “We are obliged to contribute to the defense and stabilization of the nation.”

Federal troops have struggled to contain Al-Shabaab, particularly in central and southern regions, even letting off some of the regions which had been liberated by the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Deni, however, conditioned his participation in the upcoming National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting, slated for early May, on what he described as a return to prior political agreements by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Mogadishu, he said, must honor previous agreements.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has struggled to contain internal resistance, with Puntland and Jubaland questioning his move to hastily pass constitutional amendments without proper consultations. Puntland is the most stable and progressive federal state of Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE