BOSASO, Somalia – In the rocky embrace of the Cal Miskaad Mountains, where sparse greenery clings desperately to the rugged terrain of northeastern Somalia, a struggle unfolds that demands the world’s attention. Here, in Somalia’s Puntland State, an intense military operation — dramatically dubbed “Operation Hillaac” — is underfoot, targeting the notorious ISIS strongholds nestled among these jagged peaks.
As this full-fledged campaign against terrorism intensifies, the human cost becomes heartbreakingly clear. Thousands of families have been displaced, turning their lives upside down as they are thrust from their homes into uncertainty. The latest counts reveal that an estimated 19,640 families have been forced to flee, adding a tragic layer to their already challenging existence.
The operation, launched with vigor in the dim days of late December, is more than just a tactical battle; it’s a step to reclaim peace in a region long marred by violence. President Said Abdullahi Deni’s direct involvement in the campaign highlights its significance. Just this past Thursday, he convened his cabinet in the bustling port town of Bosaso, where strategies were dissected in fervent discussions, yielding an urgent call to arms—not of the military kind, but rather, a plea to humanitarian organizations globally.
Abdi Farah Said, the Interior Minister and a man whose concern is etched across his authoritative echoes, extended a heartfelt request to United Nations agencies, USAID, and other international allies, urging immediate assistance for those caught in the crossfire of this conflict. “The need for stabilization and humanitarian aid is urgent,” he implored. “Providing education, healthcare, clean water, and better roads isn’t just about infrastructure; it’s about restoring dignity to lives disrupted and ensuring safety as families brave the path back home.”
The figures are daunting, but they tell only part of the story. Ubah Abdirashid Mohamed Hirsi, the Minister of Humanitarian Management, lends her voice to the cause, painting a picture of an uphill battle compounded by the cruel hand of nature itself. “We’re not just fighting militants. Poor rains have shackled hope to despair, and now, with this massive displacement, survival hangs by a thread for these 19,640 families,” she notes, a flurry of concern in her words.
Mirroring the political arena’s fervor, on the ground, progress is being made, but not without its challenges. Minister of Information, Mohamud Aideed Dirir, issued praise for the Puntland Security Forces (PSF), whose efforts, though strapped by limited resources, have been nothing short of commendable. “They’ve achieved the remarkable,” Dirir announced, with palpable pride. “ISIS, though a shadow of its former self compared to Al-Shabaab, is still a pesky thorn. But now, they’re on the run, leaving their strategic positions scattered like fallen dominoes in the mountains.”
The local communities, often the unsung heroes, provide crucial intelligence, bridging gaps that technology can sometimes miss. It’s this communal effort that has led Puntland’s forces to capture key ISIS locations, those clandestine bases that were once pulsing with nefarious activities, now silent.
Among the grisly discoveries were documents linked to a Saudi national, dubbed the wallet of ISIS, who cleverly slithered away just before the forces could grasp him. In an explosive encounter, 12 militants tasted defeat, among them fighters from various African nations—Tanzania, Tunisia, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Comoros—each drawn into ISIS’s web.
ISIS-Somalia, a name that still sparks trepidation, despite its diminished stature, has loomed over the region since 2015, led by its charismatic yet elusive leader, Abdulqadir Mumin, a former al-Shabaab commander. Operating from the Golis Mountains, their attacks have been strategic rather than brute, often relying on assassinations and IED tactics. Yet, their presence remains a thorn in the safety and stability of Puntland, a strategic enclave whose ports along the Gulf of Aden are gateways for maritime trade—and, unfortunately, smuggling routes for those with malicious intents.
Through all these challenges, Puntland stands resilient. It is a testament to human tenacity, a portrait of a region’s fight not just for survival, but for the promise of stability, safety, and perhaps, peace. The world watches, hopefully not as mere spectators, but as partners in a shared quest for a better tomorrow.
Report By Axadle
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
