The armed fighters in Puntland’s Galgala hills have been undergoing a massive series of defections the past few weeks, losing officers and other key personnel to Puntland State security forces. This week, the largest-yet loss of manpower has befallen the Al-Shabaab divisions based around the oasis town of Galgala.

Earlier this week, a group of heavily-armed men turned their weapons into Puntland authorities and pleaded for immunity. This has been the trend ever since the leader of the Galgala militants, a weapons trafficker known as Said Mohamed ‘Atom,’ pledged his organization’s allegiance to Al-Shabaab and the wider Al-Qaeda network.

Atom’s supporters, many of whom were local clan militia with personal grievances, have lost confidence in the organization, which they now view as fighting a never-ending parochial battle. Local and state authorities said that an immunity deal still applies, and that when peace is forged, the displaced people of the region will be returned to their homes in Galgala.

The traditional elders of Galgala and the surrounding areas all back the Puntland State authority and have pledged their own sons to fight the militants. Residents of the region, as well as displaced natives near Dissident Nation sources in Bosaso stated that they are expecting an imminent collapse of the Galgala insurgency.

Hirsi Fiqi, Editor

DissidentNation.com