PUNTLAND: Insurrection defeated and review of constitution approved

It has been a tough, rough and deadly day for the people of Puntland. Indeed a day to remember, as Garoowe, the Capital of Puntland, has been under fire by heavily armed insurrectionists under the control and direction of Garoowe’s Aaranjan group that includes former President Faroole and his two sons, Khadar Faroole, a special envoy for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, and Mohamed Faroole, a former security advisor to President Deni.

Now the question many are asking is, why did Puntland has to wait for so long and didn’t apprehend the insurrectionists, as reliable information and intelligence was in fact available of their intention to attack, capture the parliament, and perhaps, as they have many times threatened, kill the Speaker of the House, the Honorable Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril Garaad Awl?

It isn’t the first time Aaranjaan insurrectionists have attacked the people of Puntland and Puntland institutions. On 6 February 2023, they vacated their defensive positions in Laascaanood to attack the city of Garoowe and Puntland State University (PSU) with the clear purpose of preventing Puntland municipal elections. They failed. On same day, just like clockwork, in a well coordinated movement of forces with Somaliland leadership, Somaliland military attacked Laascaanood and the defensive positions the same clan militia vacated. Somaliland too failed and their attack was foiled.

Again, in the early morning of 16 May 2023, the insurrections attacked a convoy carrying voting ballots near Garoowe international airport. Once again they failed to capture the ballots, but succeeded to kill three security personnel and put Garoowe airport out of action for about a week.

With all their attempts to destabilize Puntland, on 25th May 2023, Puntland municipal elections were successfully held in 30 out of 33 districts. Garoowe was one of the three districts that failed to hold the municipal elections because of violent threats emanating from the insurrectionists.

And the insurrectionists weren’t alone with their plan to destabilize Puntland. It extended all the way to Villa Somalia and to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, where on the 5th of May 2023, President Hassan Sheikh threatened that if Puntland went ahead with the municipal elections, the state that existed for 24 years will collapse within 24 hours. Of course, as part of the tripartite plan in Djibouti, whenever President Hassan Sheikh speaks, he speaks for Ismail Omar Guelleh (IOG) and Muse Bihi too.

With all that open-source intelligence, why didn’t Puntland act on it and apprehend all the insurrectionists known to be part of the tripartite plan and with a well known military base in Ligle, south of Garoowe?

Unfortunately, Puntland didn’t act on it, until Islan Ise told President Deni last night to act like a President and take responsibility for the security and safety of Puntland. But by then, the insurrections were on the loose attacking Puntland Parliament.

GENERAL SAEED DHEERE TO THE RESCUE – SAME ENEMY, SAME LOCATION

As they threatened all week, the insurrectionists armed with heavy weapons went on the attack, but Puntland security forces were ready to defend the parliament, and defend they did. And not only defend, but a contingent led by General Saeed Dheere went direct to the source and the insurrectionists’ base at Ligle, the same Ligle that Hassan Shire Abgaal, leader of today’s insurrection, was based as a foot soldier of al-Itihad terror group during their invasion of Garoowe and what was then known as the Northeastern Regions. After liquidating the enemy remnants in Ligle, the General and his team, coming from behind those attacking the parliament, completed the mopping up operations and then transferred the enemy’s heavy armaments to BASE 54 of Puntland Dervishes.

The remnants of al-Itihad terror group defeated by Abdullahi Yusuf and General Saeed Dheere in 1993 are once again defeated 30 years later by President Deni and the same highly decorated General. Meantime, it has to be remembered that the same remnants,  leaders of today’s insurrection, were saved in 1993 because they swore that they will never again be involved in politics. Will they once again be saved, so they may attack the people of Puntland a third time?

JUSTICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF PUNTLAND

People of Puntland now await to hear from President Deni and his plans for the insurrection leaders. Justice should prevail and and those who are responsible for the death of Puntland security forces and the death of innocent people in Garoowe and the destruction of property should be brought to justice. They should pay a high price for their crimes, and everyone who has suffered in the process should be fully compensated from the lavish wealth of the insurrection leaders. Anything short of full justice is a betrayal to the people of Puntland and the families who shed blood for the Puntland we are all so proud of today.

As for the international community, who continuously lecture Somalia about stability, rule of law, and about securing the peace, it is time you should look at the mirror and hold responsible for your citizens, Swedish, Australian and Kenyan passport holders, for the crimes they committed in leading today’s armed insurrection in Garoowe.

Daljir Media | SOMALIA