Friday September 12, 2025
Garowe (HOL) — Security forces in Puntland have arrested several soldiers and officers accused of leaving the frontlines in the Calmiskaat mountains of Bari region with weapons seized during battles against ISIS.
The arrests were carried out in Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland, according to security officials who spoke to HOL.
During the ongoing fight against ISIS in the Bari mountains, Puntland has repeatedly warned that any weapons captured from the militants must remain on the battlefield. Officials say the practice of removing arms from combat zones undermines discipline and weakens the effectiveness of counter-ISIS operations.
Recently, the Bari regional police chief accused some soldiers, selected on tribal grounds, of obstructing operations and using checkpoints to seize weapons for themselves.
Despite the internal challenges, Puntland forces continue to make gains in the mountainous areas where ISIS fighters remain entrenched.