HARGEISA, Somalia – Authorities in the northern breakaway region of Somaliland announced the capture of alleged spies working for SSC-Khatumo and Puntland states.
The three informants were detained in the Oog area, a frontline zone in the Sool region, where Somaliland forces are amassing to launch a counter-attack against Las Anod city.
Abdifitah Ali Abdi, Abdifitah Hassan Elmi, and Abdirashid Mohamud Ibrahim are in custody and undergoing interrogations at a prison manned by the Somaliland intelligence service.
“Somaliland intelligence agency confirms that it arrested 3 SSC and Puntland spies, who were sent to Oog to collect information about the military bases in the town,” said NIA.
The Somaliland army has been fighting with clan militias for control of Las Anod, which it has controlled since 2007 but lost to SSC this year following an 8-month bloody conflict.
The Somali government has recently declared it recognized SSC-Khatumo as an interim administration under the country’s Federal system and awaits to become a Federal State.
The escalating conflict in the Sool region which Somaliland claims as part of its territory represents a real danger to peace and stability across the Horn of Africa, per the analysts.
Las Anod got a lot of coverage through social media, especially portraying resistance by SSC and their supporters against Somaliland troops after liberating the northern city.
