Authorities in Puntland have announced plans to pursue strict legal measures against suspected ISIS members captured during recent security operations in the Bari region, with senior officials calling for severe punishments, including the death penalty.
Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni instructed the newly appointed judiciary of the Armed Forces Court to take decisive action against individuals linked to the ISIS group defeated in the Al-Miskaad area.
According to officials, President Deni ordered that anyone proven to be a member of ISIS should face capital punishment under Puntland’s military judicial system.
The remarks come amid ongoing security operations targeting militant groups operating in the mountainous Bari region, where Puntland forces have carried out campaigns against extremist factions in recent months.
Puntland Vice President Ilyas Osman Lugatoor also emphasized the administration’s hardline stance while opening a training course for members of the judiciary. He said Puntland has a long history of confronting armed groups that threaten regional stability and called on courts to impose strict penalties on those involved in terrorism-related offenses.
“Puntland is ready to prosecute those involved in terrorism and those who commit murders, and we expect you to take action against anyone who commits a crime,” Lugatoor said.
The Puntland administration has intensified counterterrorism efforts in the Bari region following clashes with ISIS-linked fighters in the Al-Miskaad mountains, an area long considered a stronghold for militant activity.
Human rights organizations have previously raised concerns over the use of military courts and capital punishment in terrorism-related cases in Somalia, urging authorities to ensure due process and fair trials for detainees.
