Appeals court upholds death sentence for four ISIS members in Puntland

The Puntland Eastern Province’s Court of Appeal found ‎Jama Adan Abdirahman Tusbahle, Ayub Omar Shire, Abdullahi Salaad Bos (Mahoonge) and Mohamud Abshir Musa (Olyo) of being responsible for the planned explosions and murders in Bosaso and sentenced them to death by firing squad.

‎The men appealed against the previous death sentence. The appellant court upheld the decision last month by a military court. ‎In video interviews, the convicts confessed to the charges, some of whom were former members of Al Qaeda- affiliated Al Shabab. ‎

The court adjourned the case of Abdirahman Shirwac Isse (Lahore), who was absent but was among the accused who were sentenced to death by shooting. Since their formation in 2015, the organization has fought mainly against the security forces of Puntland, and established military bases in the region.

Even so, Puntland state experiences rare deadly attacks but it has become a base for rivalry groups; Alshabab and ISIS. The regional authorities repeatedly pledged to oust the two groups out of their territories.