A sound counter-terrorism policy can foil terrorist attacks in Puntland

[Deeq A.]

Garowe ( PPM) —Al-shabaab claimed the suicide bombing that cost the life of the former Governor of Nugaal region. Al-shabaab planned the attack carefully to avoid searches. Where bombs had been prepared and where the car travelled from remains a puzzle. If the attack vehicle passed through checkpoints, lax security is partly to blame for the attack. If Al-shabaab assembled the bomb in Garowe, it must have been prepared by people who stayed in Garowe.

The Administration of former President Abdirahman Farole instituted a policy to register new tenants in Garowe to prevent Al-shabaab cells from making a secret base in Garowe. The assassination of Sheikh Abdukadir Ga’amey exposed how Al-shabaab recruits assassins and enablers and whom they liaise with before carrying out suicide bombing or targeted assassinations.

Duplication of security forces makes Puntland vulnerable to Al-Shabaab and ISIS attacks. In 2002 the former Puntland Intelligence Service was established without consultations. It was a time Puntland was undergoing a power struggle caused by the unconstitutional election of Jama Ali Jama as Puntland President. The new intelligence service has had the duty to help Western countries target Somali and foreign returnees from Afghanistan. It was a part of the War on Terror agenda.

The local intelligence agency metamorphosed into a quasi-independent organisation whose activities are not overseen by Puntland Government. In 2009 President Adbirahman Farole attempted to reform Puntland Intelligence Service. PIS funders persuaded President Farole to create a separate security force. PIS had been founded to collaborate with foreign funders to gather intelligence and arrest suspects and hand them over to  sponsors. PIS has changed the name but organizationally remains the same. It is accountable to its sponsors.

The externally-funded intelligence service is better resourced than the domestic security service whose head is appointed by each new administration of Puntland. The perception that Puntland intelligence services operate outside the law dissuades people from sharing information with Puntland Government.

President Said Abdullahi  Deni’s administration has launched security reforms that do not affect rival intelligence agencies in Puntland.

Will President Deni merge rival intelligence services in Puntland?

Puntland State Government intelligence service cannot foil terrorist attacks if it leaves the counter-terrorism operations to its secret, a foreign-funded rival based in Bosaso. President Deni has an opportunity to merge the two intelligence services to lay formulate a sound counter-terrorism strategy. 

© Puntland Post Monthly, 2020

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