Puntland security forces have presented two individuals who claimed to be members of the ISIS militant group and who reportedly surrendered voluntarily to security authorities.
An official statement from Puntland indicated that the two men are originally from Ethiopia and were among the fighters stationed in the Al-Miskaad mountains of the Bari region, where ISIS had established military bases.
The spokesperson for the anti-ISIS operation, General Faadhigo, stated that the two men were part of a group of around 300 fighters who previously operated in the mountainous areas of the Bari region. According to him, only about 40 fighters—both Somali and foreign nationals—remain active in the area.
“The men carried their own supplies and appeared to have set out on their own accord. We will investigate whether they were sent ahead as scouts or if they genuinely surrendered,” the spokesperson said.
Puntland also noted that these two individuals are not the first to surrender. There are other members still in the mountains who wish to defect from the group but are unable to find a secure route to do so. The spokesperson emphasized that harsh living conditions and ongoing military pressure are key reasons behind the surrender of ISIS members operating in Puntland territories.
