Intelligence Brief: 4 Tanzanians among Islamic State Somalia Province operatives involved in Puntland terrorist attack

Introduction

On January 1, 2025, the Islamic State Somalia Province (ISSP) claimed responsibility for a deadly and highly coordinated assault on a military base in Puntland, Somalia. The attack, which resulted in the deaths of 22 Somali Puntland troops, was carried out by operatives from diverse nationalities, including Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Yemen. Of particular significance was the involvement of four Tanzanian nationals, signaling a disturbing trend of East African involvement in transnational terrorist operations.

This attack occurred shortly after the signing of a counterterrorism Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on December 19, 2024, between Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS). This MOU, signed by NISA Director Abdullahi Mohamed Ali (Sanbaloolshe) and TISS Chief Seleman Abubakar Mombo, aimed to bolster collaboration between the two nations in combating terrorism.

This intelligence brief analyses the implications of Tanzanian involvement in the ISSP’s operations, assesses the broader regional security context, and examines the role of the newly signed MOU in addressing these challenges. By exploring these dimensions, the analysis underscores the urgent need for enhanced counterterrorism measures in East Africa.