Residents and officials of Puntland, a semi-autonomous region of Somalia, are on edge that al-Shabaab militants might redeploy to their homeland after the militants recently withdrew from Mogadishu.
Residents of Bosaso in Puntland's Bari region are worried that the militants might shift their base to the Galgala mountains, an area where Puntland has been battling against Sheikh Mohamed Atam's militia. Although Atam denies links to the the hardline Islamist groups and has recently engaged in peace talks with the Puntland Administration, locals still believe the area is a good base of operations for al-Shabaab and that Atam is bluffing.
“I think the al-Shabaab militant group are still so strong and are not defeated so I worry that the may relocate to our territory. I urge the government to to be on high alert," Bashir Geele, Bosaso resident told Somalia Report.
Al-Shabaab's withdrawal from Mogadishu dominated conversation in Bosaso's restaurants and shops in recent days.
“Their pull out from Mogadishu is good opportunity for the Somali government and humanitarian aid campaign, and I think Somalia will be better if it defeats al-Shabaab," Muna Abdiriisack, a university student and Bosaso resident, told our correspondent.
The militants also claimed their withdraw from Mogadishu was a tactical move designed to begin a hit and run campaign against the government forces.
"Al-Shabaab militants will start a guerrilla war, kidnapping, and suicide bombs here in Puntland so their complete defeat may take one or two years," Hamdi Jama businesswoman told Somalia Report.
Local traditional leaders urged the government to take preventive measures to avoid any al-Shabaab relocation to Puntland's mountains region or to Somaliland's Golis mountain range.
The newly appointed Puntland Minister of Security Col Khalif Isse Mudan told the local media that the government is following the situation closely and urged the security authorities to be on high alert. He also warned that al-Shabaab might use the Galgala or Golis mountains as a sanctuary much like the Taliban used Tora Bora in Afghanistan.
"Our security apparatus are vigilant and ready to act preemptively. We mobilized our troops and we will defend our territory from al-Shabaab,” vowed Col Khalif Isse Mudan.
Galkayo, a town in Puntland's southern region of Mudug, recently held a graduation ceremony for its civil security police force and for the first time conducted security operations during which several suspects were arrested.
Although Puntland has seen an increase in assassinations and IEDs in recent months, it has been concerned a relatively safe area of Somalia.