Puntland Intelligence Agency Explained

Agency Name:Puntland Intelligence Agency
Nativename A:Hay’ada Sirdoonka Puntland'
Nativename R:وكالة الاستخبارات بونتلاند
Formed:2001
Preceding1:Puntland Intelligence Service (2001-2010)
Preceding2:Puntland Intelligence Agency (2010-present)
Headquarters:Bosaso, Puntland, Somalia
Employees:Classified
Budget:Classified
Chief1 Name:Jamaal Carab Yusuuf Jibril
Chief1 Position:Director
Parent Agency:National Intelligence and Security Agency

The Puntland Intelligence Agency (Somali: Hay’ada Sirdoonka Buntlaand, Arabic: وكالة الاستخبارات بونتلاند) is an intelligence agency based in Puntland, Somalia. It was officially established in 2001 as Puntland Intelligence Service during the rule of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, with assistance from the United States.[1] The agency operates throughout Somalia, but principally in the autonomous Puntland region, where it serves as the main intelligence and counter-terrorism wing of the Puntland Security Force.[2]

The agency took the name Puntland Intelligence Agency in 2010 after undergoing extensive reform to streamline it to work side by side with other government agencies across Somalia. These reforms were instituted by former Puntland President Abdirahman Farole.[3]

Contemporary history

Then known as Puntland Intelligence Service, the PIS was founded in 2001 with help from the United States Intelligence Community to act as a buffer against possible Islamist movements. Its responsibilities include surveillance, investigation and arrest of suspected terrorists; monitoring of ports and airports; protection of foreigners.[4]

It has led the fight against Al-Qaeda in Galgala, Puntland known as the Galgala Campaign.[5] On February 26, 2012, the self-proclaimed leader of the Galgala militants reaffirmed their allegiance with Al-Qaeda.[6] The Puntland Intelligence Agency is trained and supported by US counter-terrorism agencies via their branches in Djibouti and is currently the strongest armed wing of Puntland's security apparatus.[7]

23 dec 2022 The President of Puntland replaced Mukhtar Jeyte and appointed Jamal Arab Yusuf

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Somalia: Puntland's Govt Blasts VOA Report As 'Appeasing Al Shabaab'. Garowe Online. allAfrica.
  2. Web site: NSNL 136 - Intelligence profile : Somalia. Cvno.net. 23 October 2014.
  3. Web site: Puntland First Anniversary Report 2009. 2015-06-13. 2015-06-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20150614165908/http://www.readbag.com/alwafaagroup-report-puntland-first-anniversary-report-2009. dead.
  4. Book: Lovelace, Douglas C.. Terrorism Documents of International and Local Control.. 2008. Oxford Univ Pr. New York. 978-0195382785. 531.
  5. Militant Leadership Monitor Volume 1 Issue 9. Dataspace Princeton. 30 January 2010. The Jamestown Foundation. 13 June 2015.
  6. News: Forbes . Specials.forbes.com. 23 October 2014.
  7. Web site: Somalia: Somaliland is Becoming Africa's 'Terrorism Secret'. allAfrica. 13 June 2015.