Hiraal Institute Accuses Puntland of Boosting Al-shabaab’s Capabilities

[Deeq A.]

Under fire: Hiraal Institute’s report undermines the counterterrorism narrative of Puntland State under President Said Abdullahi Deni.

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — The Mogadishu-based Hiraal Institute alleged that Puntland State of Somalia remains a core route for Al-shabaab to boos its operational and tax collection capabilities throughout Somalia.  In twenty-seven-page report co-produced with Gist, Hiraal Institute places Puntland State at the heart of “illicit cross-border weapons flows continue to flourish, particularly from Yemen…” with the illegal arms traders play a larger role in “sourcing and delivering of weapons to A[l]-s[habaab]”.

“Some arms brought from Yemen are reportedly transferred to AS ownership in Puntland, for instance, while in other instances the handover point will be in south or central Somalia” writes Hiraal Institute. The docking sites in Northern Puntland coast, Hiraal alleges, are important for Al-shabaab, but in the absence of state capacity to disrupt those illicit activities Al-shabaab’s capabilities will remain undiminished.

Hiraal Institute report alleges Puntland lacks the capacity to disrupt illicit activities that boost Al-shabaab’s operational and tax collection capabilities throughout Somalia.

Hiraal Institute researchers did not interview any officials from Puntland State to find out what the Federal Member State is doing to deal with militant extremist organizations such as Al-shabaab and Islamic State in Somalia, two organizations at war with Puntland forces in Bari.

Unchallenged the Hiraal Instreport will undermine the counterterrorism narrative of Puntland” said a Puntland State government official.

© Puntland Post, 2022

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