Puntland Bans Illegal Foreign Entry and Cracks Down on IS Terror Financing

Authorities in Somalia’s Puntland region have implemented on January 28 a ban on the illegal entry of foreigners and ordered telecom companies to deactivate SIM cards linked to undocumented individuals and Islamic State (IS) terrorists.
These measures aim to disrupt IS’s financial networks as the military intensifies its offensive against IS fighters in the region. Recent military operations have targeted IS hideouts in the Alimiskaad and Al-Madow mountains in Puntland’s Bari region, where security forces have seized camps and pushed fighters deeper into the mountains.
In addition to military action, Puntland authorities have launched a crackdown on undocumented people in the region, resulting in over 300 arrests. The Ministry of the Interior has also issued a directive prohibiting the sale of SIM cards to undocumented individuals and barring them from opening financial accounts without proper identification. Abdirahman Yusuf Farah, a former Puntland intelligence chief, reassured the public that security forces would respect the rights of those who enter the region legally.
The International Crisis Group’s December report highlighted that the Islamic State’s Somalia branch is becoming a key player in financing terrorism across Africa, extorting civilians and businesses to fund operations. Senior researcher Omar Mahmood warned that Puntland is crucial in blocking the group’s access to international banking systems and telecom networks to halt their financial operations. Despite being relatively peaceful compared to southern Somalia, Puntland’s rising concerns over the Islamic State’s growing influence, largely fuelled by foreign fighters, have prompted calls for international military and financial support.

About Geraldine Boechat 2998 Articles
Senior Editor for Medafrica Times and former journalist for Swiss National Television. former NGO team leader in Burundi and Somalia