Islamic State’s branch in Somalia is strengthening its foothold in the country’s north despite ongoing offensives by Somali forces, particularly in the semi-autonomous Puntland region, Sky News has reported. Fighting in the rugged Galgala Mountains has been intense, with soldiers facing ambushes, hidden explosive devices, and harsh terrain. Recent military operations uncovered a vast militant network of caves and bunkers—including a bomb factory producing drones, rockets, and suicide vests. Somali forces seized caches of unused rockets, homemade bombs, and even advanced medical equipment believed to be used to treat wounded fighters. They also discovered Islamic State flags and Sharia ruleboards in villages previously under militant control. Thousands of villagers had fled these areas, too afraid to return even after the extremists were driven out.
Colonel Ali Dirane, a Puntland battalion commander, revealed evidence of cooperation between Islamic State in Somalia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. “We have found letters that indicate there is correspondence between IS and the Houthis,” he said. Puntland’s army chief, Brigadier General Adan Abdi Hasa, has urged greater international involvement, warning that the threat is not just local but regional. The U.S. military has also stepped in—conducting airstrikes against Islamic State operatives in Somalia earlier this year, the first such strikes of President Donald Trump’s second term. Islamic State in Somalia first emerged in 2015 as a splinter group from al-Shabaab. Though still smaller than its al-Qaeda-linked rival, IS operates training camps in the Cal Miskaat mountains, led by Abdulkadir Mumin, and funds its activities through extortion, smuggling, and illicit taxation in coastal areas.
Estimates suggest the group numbers in the hundreds, yet its ambitions are growing. UN experts recently warned that both al-Qaeda and Islamic State are shifting their global operations towards Africa, citing increased activity in Somalia, Mali, Burkina Faso, and beyond. The escalation underscores a wider security risk: Africa is becoming a new frontier for extremist groups seeking to expand territory, revenue, and influence as they lose ground in the Middle East.
