A prominent Puntland elder who took up arms in the fight against the Islamic State in Somalia (ISIS) militants has been killed in clashes in the rugged Al Miskat mountains of Bari region.
Abdi Hayan Salah lost his life late Friday night when ISIS fighters launched an assault on Puntland forces stationed in the Walisoor valley. Security officials confirmed that at least two soldiers were also wounded in the firefight.
First Deputy Speaker of the Puntland Parliament, Mohamed Barri Shire, paid tribute to the slain elder, describing him as a symbol of courage and sacrifice. “May he rest in peace. He was the first elder who laid down his turban, put on the uniform, and joined the frontline from the outset of the war,” Shire said.
Puntland forces have been waging a relentless campaign against ISIS in the Al Miskat mountains for nearly a year, scoring major gains despite the militants’ attempts to entrench themselves in the remote and harsh terrain. Officials hailed the elder’s contribution as a reminder of the unity between traditional leadership and state security forces in the ongoing struggle to root out extremism.
