...a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998. Puntland and the equally autonomous Somaliland seem to have avoided the clan rivalries and warlordism that have typified the rest of Somalia, which puts both places high on the list for Islamic subversion...
State Mohamud Aided Dirir said the ailing al-Shabaab
...... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...emir is "being given VIP treatment" in Somaliland, a breakaway region in the north of the country.
During an interview with a local TV, Dirir announced that Ahmed Diriye, also known as Ahmed Umar Abu Ubaidah is receiving a medical treatment at a hospital in Hargeisa.
Continuing, the regional minister added that Somaliland authorities are aware of this and gave the al-Shabaab leader access to arrive in the city under their protection.
He stated that the al-Qaeda-linked group is currently in the process of picking a new emir to replace Abu Ubaidah, who has been ill for several months as it faces military presure.
Last year, US said it was increasing its reward for information about key leader of al-Shabaab to $10 million apiece, a move that follows a spate of deadly attacks by the group.
The US statement said Diriye, who has been leader since September 2014 after the killing of Ahmed Abdi Godane in a US strike near Barawe city in Sep. 1 of the same year.
Abu Ubaidah was designated by the US as a "specially designated global terrorist" in April 2015, and slapped with UN sanctions the same year.
Somaliland is yet to respond to the grave allegations by Puntland minister that it treats al-Shabaab "emir" Ahmed Diriye in undisclosed Hargeisa hospital.
The accusation comes amid ongoing LasAnod battle, which Somaliland accused Puntland of playing a role and sending troops to back the SSC fighters who are in control of the city.
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