Hargeisa (SLpost)- Security concerns have intensified in Hargeisa following reports that security forces have detained members of the Somaliland National Army over alleged links to the Al-Shabaab militant group, according to information circulating in the capital.
At least nine soldiers are reportedly in custody, with the latest detention said to have taken place on Saturday. The reported arrests are said to have been carried out by the Rapid Reaction Unit (RRU) and the counter-terrorism investigations division as part of an ongoing security operation.
According to the reports, the arrests have largely taken place in neighborhoods in the southern and southeastern parts of Hargeisa, including the Masalaha area.
Military Uniforms and U.S. Dollars Reportedly Seized
Separate information indicates that three members of the National Army were recently detained in the Masalaha area, near the southern side of Hargeisa International Airport.
Security personnel are reportedly said to have recovered military uniforms and thousands of U.S. dollars from premises allegedly occupied by the suspects.
The circumstances surrounding the reported seizure, including the source and intended purpose of the money and military clothing, have not been independently established.
Investigators are reportedly examining the material as part of a wider inquiry into the alleged activities of the detainees.
Security Tightened Across Hargeisa
The reported arrests have coincided with heightened security measures across Hargeisa.
Security forces were reportedly deployed at several locations overnight, with vehicles stopped and searched at checkpoints and other points across the capital.
The increased security presence follows several days of reports concerning the detention of military personnel and an investigation into alleged activities that authorities reportedly consider a potential threat to national security.
Sources familiar with the reported investigation claim that authorities are seeking to determine whether the detained soldiers acted independently or were connected to a wider network.
Investigators are also reportedly examining how the individuals allegedly entered the National Army, the nature of their suspected activities and whether additional people may be connected to the case.
Developments Come Amid Security Tensions in Awdal
The developments in Hargeisa come as Somaliland is also dealing with heightened security concerns in the Awdal and Selel regions, where recent tensions and clashes have prompted renewed government security measures.
On September 19, Somaliland authorities imposed restrictions on armed mobilisation and the carrying of weapons in the two regions, directing security forces to take legal action against individuals found carrying illegal firearms. The measures followed recent tensions and clashes involving sections of local communities in Awdal and Selel.
The developments in the western regions have added to wider security concerns facing Somaliland at a time when authorities are simultaneously dealing with reported counter-terrorism investigations in the capital.
Al-Shabaab Has No Known Enduring Base in Somaliland
Al-Shabaab is an armed militant organisation that operates primarily in Somalia, where it has conducted an extended insurgency against the Somali government and its security partners. The group has also attempted to conduct operations beyond its principal areas of activity.
However, Al-Shabaab has not established an enduring territorial foothold or visible permanent base in Somaliland. Although the group failed to establish such a foothold in Somaliland, the latest development indicate that it has maintained the capability to use operatives and informants in Somaliland’s eastern Sool region.
The latest reports therefore represent a particularly sensitive security development because the allegations concern members of Somaliland’s own security establishment rather than a publicly known Al-Shabaab territorial presence.
2008 Hargeisa Bombings Remain the Last Major Attack
The last major Al-Shabaab-linked attack in Somaliland dates back to October 29, 2008, when coordinated suicide bombings struck several locations in Hargeisa, including the Somaliland Presidential Palace, the Ethiopian consulate and UNDP offices. The attacks killed 25 people.
Al-Shabaab did not publicly claim responsibility for those bombings, but U.S. authorities and Somaliland government attributed the attacks to Al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda-linked militants.
It is reported that the absence of a large-scale attack does not mean the threat has completely disappeared, reporting that Somaliland security agencies have disrupted suspected plots since 2008.
Authorities Yet to Confirm the Reported Arrests
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the Somaliland government and security institutions have not publicly confirmed the reported arrests or the alleged links to Al-Shabaab.
There has been no official statement from the National Army or other relevant security agencies confirming the identities of those detained, the precise number of soldiers arrested, the reported recovery of military uniforms and U.S. currency, or the findings of the investigation.
It also remains unclear when the alleged suspects joined the National Army, whether investigators have identified an organised network, or whether the reported arrests are connected to any specific planned operation.
The reported detention of military personnel over alleged links to an armed extremist organisation would constitute a significant security matter if confirmed. For now, however, the allegations remain subject to investigation and official verification.
Somaliland Post understands that the investigation is ongoing and that security authorities are continuing to examine the reported network and any potential connections beyond those already detained. Further details are expected if Somaliland authorities formally comment on the case.
