Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni has announced the beginning of the third and final phase of the Hilac Campaign, aimed at eliminating the last remaining pockets of the Islamic State in Somalia (IS-Somalia aka ISIS) resistance in the region. The announcement, which came in a televised address to the nation yesterday, marks a critical turning point in the campaign and underscores the government’s determination to root out the extremist group and restore peace and stability to the region.
According to President Deni, the third phase of the Hilac Campaign will focus on mopping up operations in the most remote and inaccessible areas of the mountains, where ISIS fighters are believed to be hiding out and regrouping. Puntland forces have had to rely on air support and ground troops to navigate the rugged terrain and locate enemy positions.
Despite these challenges, however, President Deni expressed confidence that the Puntland forces, with the support of their international partners, would be able to complete the mission and eliminate the last remaining ISIS fighters in the region. He praised the bravery and dedication of the troops on the front lines, who have been fighting in some of the most difficult and dangerous conditions imaginable, and called on the Puntland people to continue to support and pray for their success.
The Amnesty Offer
In addition to announcing the launch of the third phase of the Hilac Campaign, President Deni also made a significant gesture of reconciliation and forgiveness, offering amnesty to anyone who had collaborated with or supported ISIS in the past, on the condition that they surrender and ask for a pardon within the next seven days.
The amnesty offer, which is limited in scope and time, is intended to encourage ISIS collaborators and sympathizers to come forward and renounce their support for the group, without fear of prosecution or retaliation. President Deni emphasized that the offer was a one-time opportunity for those who had been misled or coerced into supporting ISIS to turn their backs on the group and start a new life as law-abiding citizens of Puntland.
The offer of amnesty is a significant departure from the government’s previous approach to dealing with ISIS collaborators, which has largely focused on punishment and retribution. It reflects a growing recognition among Puntland leaders that a more nuanced and compassionate approach is needed to address the root causes of extremism and violence in the region, and to promote reconciliation and healing among communities that have been torn apart by conflict.
At the same time, however, President Deni made it clear that the amnesty offer was not a sign of weakness or a lack of resolve on the part of the government. He warned that anyone who failed to take advantage of the offer within the seven-day window would face the full force of the law, and would be treated as an enemy combatant by Puntland forces.
