Central and south Somalia has been a terrorist haven for some time. That much is well established. Now there are indications that religious radicalization is spreading further north, particularly in Puntland.

Here are examples of recent events in Puntland that support our claim:

1- Bosaso, Mar 23, 2009. Riots took place in reaction to the arrest of Sheikh Osman who was suspected of links with al-Shabab, a Somali terrorist organization. Two people were killed in these riots and the Sheikh was eventually released due to strong public pressure.

2- Qardho, Apr 28, 2009. The governor of Karkar region, Mr. Yasin Said Hussein was assassinated near Qardho. It is not clear who was behind the murder of the governor, but religious extremists cannot be ruled out.

3- Galkayo, Apr 29, 2009. Three people, including Mr. Yasin Tolwaye, the head of Puntland’s intelligence agency in Mudug region were killed with a hand grenade. The murder of Yasin Tolwaye is only the latest in a series of assassination attacks on Puntland’s intelligence agents.

Riots, lobbing of hand grenades, assassinations, terrorism in the name of religion. Welcome to Mogadishu. No, it is not just Mogadishu, but Bosaso, Qardho and Galkayo too. It is the formula for disaster that has made a sinkhole out of southern Somalia, and it is spreading north to Puntland, as if Puntland did not already have enough problems, as if piracy were not enough, as if arms smuggling were not enough, as if human trafficking were not enough. What next?

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