Global Terrorism Index 2025

Results
 
Islamic State and Affiliates: Islamic State Somalia Province
Islamic State – Somalia Province (ISS) emerged in late 2015, when Abdul Qadir Mumin, a former al-Shabaab cleric, pledged allegiance to IS along with approximately 20 other fighters. Operating primarily in the Galgala mountains of Puntland, ISS sought to expand its influence in the region.
 
After being inactive for a year, ISS captured the port town of Qandala in 2016, marking its first significant territorial gain. The group held the town for over a month before being expelled by Puntland Security Forces in December of 2016. Despite its relatively small size compared to rivals al-Shabaab, ISS has conducted several notable attacks. In May 2017, the group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Bosaso, Puntland's commercial capital, which resulted in multiple casualties.
 
By late 2019, ISS was considered a significant part of the IS’s global network. Despite this status, the group struggled to expand its influence, facing consistent opposition from al-Shabaab, the Somali Armed Forces, and US military operations. In an attempt to broaden its reach, ISS directed its efforts toward Ethiopia, seeking to infiltrate the country and recruit additional fighters. These initiatives were consistently thwarted by Ethiopian security forces, who dismantled ISS operations and apprehended numerous militants, preventing the group from establishing a meaningful presence beyond Somalia’s borders.
 
In May 2024, a US airstrike in northern Somalia targeted Abdul Qadir Mumin, who was allegedly acting as IS’s global leader at the time. Although reports suggested he survived, the incident underscores ISS’s growing significance within the broader IS network.

In late December 2024, ISS launched a coordinated suicide attack on a Puntland military base near Dharjaale in the Bari region. The assault involved 12 militants and two explosive- laden vehicles, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 Puntland soldiers. Puntland forces repelled the attack, killing several ISS fighters.
 
In response to ISS escalating activities, Puntland authorities initiated a major offensive in January 2025, targeting ISS hideouts in the Cal Miskaad mountains. The operation led to the seizure of eight jihadist outposts and the deaths of several ISS fighters.
 
As of January 2025, ISS continues to pose a security threat in Somalia, particularly in Puntland's mountainous regions. The group's resilience and integration into IS's global network highlight the ongoing challenges in countering militant Islamist factions in the Horn of Africa. 
 
Global Terrorism Index 2025. Institute for Economics & Peace. Sydney, Australia