By Mohamed Fatah

Puntland has been at the forefront of a critical and sustained military campaign against ISIS (Daacish) terrorists, achieving significant gains in the Bari region of Cal Miskaad mountains, where the group has established a stronghold. From this base, ISIS has orchestrated terrorist activities not only within Puntland but also across Somalia and the broader Red Sea region, posing a threat to regional stability and security. Puntland’s efforts have disrupted the group’s operations, its infrastructure, and curtailed its ability to recruit and expand, marking a crucial step in countering the spread of extremism in the Horn of Africa. Puntland’s ongoing campaign underscores its pivotal role in addressing a threat that extends far beyond its borders.

The battle against ISIS (Daacish) in Puntland is not just a military campaign; it is also a reflection of the complex and often contentious dynamics within Somalia’s federal structure. Puntland, a semi-autonomous region with its own government and security apparatus, has often found itself at odds with Mogadishu over issues of federalism. The fight against ISIS has further highlighted these divisions, as Puntland shoulders the burden of confronting a transnational terrorist group while receiving no support from the federal government, in the rugged Cal Miskaad mountains of North Eastern Puntland, Somalia.

While Puntland’s soldiers battle terrorists in the mountains, Mogadishu’s leaders are busy at diplomatic summits abroad. Yet, VOA tells a different story—one that erases the real fighters and fabricates victories for those who never stepped foot on the battlefield.  For three months, Puntland’s elite security forces have been engaged in a relentless war against Daacish (Islamic State) militants in the Cal Miskaad mountains of northern Somalia, particularly in the Bari region. Meanwhile, Mogadishu refuses to fight, instead falsely claiming victories it had no role in achieving.

Harun Maruf and VOA’s coverage of Somalia have misrepresented key security developments, crediting Mogadishu with battles it never fought. This failure to acknowledge Puntland’s independent operations misleads audiences and distorts Somalia’s security reality. This is not just misreporting—it is a case study in how misinformation undermines counterterrorism and jeopardizes U.S. national security interests. At the center of this deception are two figures: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who substitutes rhetoric for action, and Harun Maruf, whose reporting shields Mogadishu from scrutiny rather than delivering objective journalism.

A War Fought Alone

Puntland’s security forces have been engaged in intense combat in the Cal Miskaad mountains, a rugged and strategically significant terrain in Bari region, where Daacish has maintained strongholds for years. In this unforgiving landscape, Puntland’s security forces execute decisive operations, neutralizing key Daacish figures and clearing hideouts—without a single soldier, bullet, or dollar from the Somali federal government.  

The federal government’s absence is not accidental. President Hassan has pressured security partners, including the U.S. and UAE, to block direct support to Puntland, demanding that all assistance be funneled through Mogadishu. The U.S. and UAE rejected his demands, recognizing that Puntland—not Mogadishu—delivers results. Meanwhile, Somali National Army (SNA) forces in Galmudug and Hirshabelle are abandoned, outgunned, and undersupplied. Instead of offering leadership, Villa Somalia remains detached, focused more on media posturing than securing the country.

The Role of Harun Maruf & VOA: Rewriting History

On March 5, 2025, VOA published a report falsely crediting ‘Somali forces’ with the defeat of Daacish in the Cal Miskaad mountains. In reality, the operation was led entirely by Puntland’s security forces, with no involvement from Mogadishu. This misrepresentation is not an oversight—it is a pattern. When Puntland wins, VOA erases its role. When Mogadishu fails, VOA remains silent.

Under Harun Maruf, VOA’s Somalia coverage systematically erases Puntland’s contributions, attributing its victories to “Somali forces.” When Puntland drove Daacish from the Cal Miskaad strongholds, Maruf used vague headlines to ensure that those who risked their lives remained nameless. Conversely, when Mogadishu fails, the story is buried. Maruf’s reporting is not journalism—it is propaganda, insulating President Hassan from accountability while undermining those securing Somalia. While Puntland operates independently of Mogadishu, Maruf’s framing inaccurately implies federal oversight, erasing Puntland’s critical role. This distortion undermines security and rewards incompetence.

A Tale of Two Leaders

In Bosaso, President Said Abdullahi Deni coordinates military operations, medical evacuations, and supplies. Puntland’s forces are on the frontlines, securing territory and neutralizing terrorists. Their focus is clear: defeating Daacish without waiting for Mogadishu’s approval or assistance. In Mogadishu, President Hassan embarks on yet another international trip—discussing conflicts in Sudan and the Congo while Somalia’s security deteriorates. While Somali soldiers struggle, he prioritizes photo-ops over frontline leadership.

Neglect of Domestic Security: Leadership Failure in Action

Somalia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar Ali “Balcad,” who has no prior experience in diplomacy and world affairs appears to share the administration’s misplaced priorities. While Puntland airlifts wounded soldiers to foreign hospitals, he dreams of mediating Sudanese peace talks. Meanwhile, his hometown Balcad, just 30 kilometers from Mogadishu, was overrun by al-Shabaab—with no high-ranking official resigning, no emergency response, and no accountability.

A U.S. Taxpayer-Funded Disinformation Campaign

The Voice of America, funded by U.S. taxpayers, is mandated to provide independent journalism—not act as a propaganda arm for foreign governments. Yet, in Somalia, VOA’s coverage consistently distorts security realities, misleading both American policymakers and the international community. The Trump administration recognized Mogadishu’s failures, slashing $1.5 billion in funding, including all support to Danab forces.

The lesson from Afghanistan is clear: Washington once overestimated the Afghan government’s strength—until the Taliban stormed Kabul in days. If U.S. policy in Somalia is based on VOA’s manufactured narratives, history will repeat itself.

Time for Accountability

Harun Maruf and VOA’s reporting undermine Puntland’s fight against terrorism by erasing the sacrifices of those on the front lines. This is not an oversight—it is a deliberate failure that demands scrutiny. Congress must conduct an independent review of VOA’s Somalia coverage to ensure that American taxpayer dollars support factual reporting, not manufactured narratives. This is not just a failure of journalism—it is an abuse of American taxpayer dollars. Congress must act now before further misinformation compromises Somalia’s security and undermines U.S. national security interests. Puntland’s effectiveness is no secret. Its battlefield successes speak for themselves. No amount of spin from VOA or Mogadishu can change that.

A Final Word on Leadership (or Lack Thereof)

President Hassan has failed to lead Somalia’s fight against terrorism. His administration is absent where it matters most—on the battlefield. While Puntland, Jubaland, Southwest forces as well as brave SNA soldiers and Hiiraan State fight, he continues his diplomatic tour, solving everyone else’s problems but his own country. Somalia does not need more symbolic engagements—it needs leadership. The international community must stop rewarding incompetence and recognize those actively securing Somalia’s future.

Harun Maruf has abandoned objective journalism in favor of political messaging. Together, he and President Hassan form a perfect match: one fails, and the other covers it up. But the truth cannot be buried forever. Puntland’s victories are real. President Hassan’s failures are undeniable. And no amount of media spin can change that.

Mohamed Fatah
Email: mabshir47@outlook.com

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Mohamed Fatah is a Somali-American executive specializing in government affairs, foreign policy, national security, and regulatory compliance.