Puntland security forces, during recent military operations in the Bari region, have allegedly uncovered disturbing evidence linking several businesses and hospitals in Hargeisa, Somaliland, to ISIS activities. According to documents found in areas recently liberated from the militant group in the Al Miskaat Mountains, wounded ISIS fighters are believed to have received medical treatments in these hospitals, while certain businesses appear to have engaged in trade or financial transactions that benefitted ISIS.
This development marks a serious escalation in Puntland’s longstanding accusations against Somaliland of harboring and facilitating extremist elements within its territory. Somaliland authorities have repeatedly denied such allegations, maintaining their stance against terrorism. The veracity of the recently uncovered documents has not been independently verified by outside sources like Hiiraan Online.
Following the discovery, Puntland’s government has initiated a comprehensive investigation, although details about the implicated entities remain under wraps due to ongoing inquiries. The findings have led to temporary restrictions on disclosing the identities of the involved hospitals and businesses to avoid jeopardizing the investigative process.
Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to combat terrorism, announcing that the next phase of Operation Hillaac will focus specifically on dismantling networks that provide support to ISIS. This includes aggressive measures aimed at disrupting the logistical and financial underpinnings that enable militant operations in the region.
As Puntland intensifies its counterterrorism efforts, the implications of these findings could potentially strain the already delicate relations between Puntland and Somaliland, impacting broader regional stability in the Horn of Africa.
