Puntland forces clash with alleged ISIL militants in Nugal, as the regional state accuses Fed government of supporting Al-Shabaab

Puntland forces have clashed with alleged ISIL fighters in the Nugal region a day after the militants briefly captured Garacad town, Goobjoog correspondent in the area says.

Reports indicate the militants allied to the Islamic State in the Levant and Iraq, ISIL were heading to Galgala mountain ranges in Bari region where its de facto leader Abdulkadir Mumin  announced last year the group’s allegiance to ISIL.

The militants Tuesday seized the port town of Garaad before they were overpowered by Puntland forces.  About 200 militants arrived in boats in Garaad and immediately took over the town before cutting off communication lines.

The development comes amid allegations by Puntland government that the federal government in Mogadishu was using Al-Shabaab to intimidate them into accepting the clan based 4.5 electoral formula for the August presidential and parliamentary polls.

Puntland security minister Abdi Hersi Ali Tuesday said the federal government was intent on forcing them to accept the model by sponsoring Al-Shabaab to attack some parts of the state. “We shall defend Puntland by ourselves and I urge people of Puntland to be ready. These militants used the Hobyo-Harardere route and the Federal government is part of this,” said Ali

The federal government announced late January it had settled for the 4.5 option but Puntland has persistently rejected the model instead fronting the district based system.

Al-Shabaab launched an offensive to purge its group of ISIL affiliates last year killing a number of them in various parts of the country.