The president of Somalia’s Puntland State government has appointed a special committee to raise awareness about public safety and terror threats, Radio Garowe reports.

President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole appointed a nine-member committee consisting of Cabinet ministers, led by Women Development Minister Asha Ghelle.

Mr. Mohamed Farah Gashan, Puntland's state minister for good governance, told reporters in the Puntland capital Garowe that the new 'Awareness Committee' will visit all the regions and speak through media outlets to address the public.

The committee consists of: Women's Development Minister (chair); Justice Minister; Public Works Minister; Environment Minister; Fisheries Minister; State Minister for Good Governance; State Minister for Security; Deputy Health Minister; and Deputy Agriculture Minister;

Mr. Gashan said: "Every person in Puntland is expected to partake in a united effort against international terrorists who have attacked Puntland and who are the enemy of our peace."

He indicated that some members of the 'Awareness Committee' have already traveled to major Puntland cities, namely Bossaso and Galkayo.

Mr. Gashan stated that a government delegation led by Puntland Vice President Abdisamad Ali Shire has arrived in Bossaso to help reinforce ongoing security operations against suspected insurgents and terror sympathizers.

A Puntland security crackdown in Bossaso has exposed insurgents, who attacked a Puntland army post yesterday near Bossaso. Puntland troops killed more than 13 militants and captured many more, including a man on a U.S. wanted list.

In Galkayo, Justice Minister Abdi Khalif Sheikh Hassan led a Puntland delegation to help raise public awareness about security threats posed by the terror groups, such as Al Shabaab, an Al Qaeda-affiliate group that controls much of southern Somalia.

Al Shabaab's strict policies are supposedly based on Islamic law, but the group's repressive behavior has alienated the majority of Somalis.

In Al Shabaab-controlled areas, there are extra strict measures imposed upon women who are not allowed to work or to travel alone.

Observers often praise Somali women's heroic role to have shouldered unimaginable burdens during the country's 20-year conflict, as many households became single-parent due to relentless conflict and displacement of civilians.

Puntland, located in the northeast corner of Somalia, is a self-governing region that considers itself part of a federal Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE