A video published by Daesh has announced the installation of a training camp in Puntland, named «Commandant Cheikh Abou Nouman», after the name of an ex-officer of the organisation Shabaab, who assassinated him after his defection to Daesh.

With no pretence of being a fully-fledged state, Puntland is a province of Somalia which seceded and now disposes of an independent government. It is in fact a pirate state that the United States encouraged in order to hinder the passage of Chinese and Russian vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Straits, and that they abandoned as soon as China and Russia sent their warships to escort their cargo ships [1] – the CIA is busy rebuilding a similar base with the Islamic Emirat of Mukalla, situated on the other bank, in Yemen [2].

For the moment, it is not possible to know whether Daesh is supported by Puntland, or if it has simply set up on disorganised territory. However, this hypothesis remains probable, since Shabaab are supported by Erythrea and Somaliland against Somalia and Puntland.

Translation
Pete Kimberley

[1] « Pirates, corsaires et flibustiers du XXIe siècle », par Thierry Meyssan, Оdnako (Russie) , Réseau Voltaire, June 25th, 2010.

[2] « Al-Qaïda crée l’Émirat islamique de Mukalla », Réseau Voltaire, April 8th, 2016.