Puntland recaptures al-Shabaab militant after Galkayo prison break; search continues for fugitives

Puntland authorities have recaptured Barkhad Awil Hirsi, one of four Al-Shabaab militants who escaped from a high-security prison in Galkayo earlier this week. Hirsi, who was sentenced to death for his role in multiple assassinations, was apprehended by the Mudug Regional Police following a brief but intense manhunt.

The escape has sparked widespread concern, marking the second high-profile prison break at the Galkayo facility since 2022. His capture, while a momentary victory, leaves behind the unsettling fact that three other death-row inmates—Abdiqani Saleban Jama, Abdullahi Faisal Hussein, and Abdirahman Awil Mohamed—are still at large, their whereabouts unknown, their next moves uncertain. All were on death row for crimes linked to Al-Shabaab, including murders and bombings.

The Puntland Police had previously announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the escapees. However, it remains unclear if the reward was paid for Hirsi's apprehension.

This isn't the first time the city has witnessed a jailbreak; it's the second in two years, raising unsettling questions about the effectiveness—or lack thereof—of the security apparatus supposedly guarding these high-risk prisoners. Former Mudug Regional Governor Abdiladiif Muse Sanyare has called for a thorough investigation, demanding accountability for those responsible for the security breach. Among some community members, a more sinister narrative is emerging. Many have accused the Puntland administration of complicity in the escape, raising fears that failure to recapture the fugitives could lead to clan-based revenge attacks.

This jailbreak spotlights security challenges across Somalia, where Al-Shabaab has a history of targeting prisons to free members. Just last month, a foiled jailbreak in Mogadishu's central prison saw militant inmates attack guards with smuggled weapons, resulting in the deaths of three prison guards and five militants. The attack led to the suspension of the Somali central prison chief, Brigadier General Dahir Abdulle Rageh, and the launch of an inquiry by the Somali Correctional Forces.

In March 2021, the group stormed a prison in Bosaso, Puntland's largest city, allegedly freeing around 400 prisoners, many of whom were convicted Al-Shabaab members. 

Additionally, the Galkayo escape has rekindled debates over the handling of young Al-Shabaab members sentenced to death. Many of those imprisoned in Galkayo are between 17 and 20 years old. Puntland and Somalia have faced international pressurefrom human rights organizations, such as Save the Children, to reconsider the long imprisonment and execution of these young men.