HARGEISA, Somalia [SMN] – Speaking at the commemoration independence day event, marking June 26, the president of Somaliland spoke about the conflict in LasAnod city.
Muse Bihi Abdi said Somaliland is battling against Al-Shabaab and Puntland forces in the disputed city, refuting claims they are killing local community struggling for an autonomy.
“Yesterday, they launched an artillery attack and killed 2 soldiers. Somaliland army has the right to give a strong response when attacked, our troops are in their bases,” said Bihi.
He said Somaliland is calling for dialogue and peace to end war, but the army has a duty to reach ”our borders”, adding that a new state cannot be established in Somaliland territory.
The SSC elders said several times that Al Shabaab is not in LasAnod as Somaliland claims, and they are working hard to establish an administration under the Somali Federal system.
Bihi’s remarks come hours after a fresh outbreak of intense fighting occurred on Sunday on the outskirts of LasAnod, the regional capital of Sool, which caused deaths and destruction.
LasAnod Fighting erupted on February 6 after Somaliland security forces held a violent crackdown on civil protests condemning series of killings against politicians and elders.
As many as 200 people were killed and thousands wounded in the war which forced majority of the locals to flee to nearby villages and Ethiopia in search of peace and basic life needs.
