HARGEISA (SMN) – The leader of the northern breakaway region of Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi reiterated his commitment to continuing peace talks aimed to halt LasAnod hostilities.
Bihi made the statement during his address on the occasion of 18th May, which marks 32 years of unilateral independence of Somaliland which was held in Hargeisa on Thursday.
“We will leave no stone unturned to pursue the peace of LasAnod in a peaceful manner,” he added. Somaliland said it seceded from Somalia in 1992 but no country recognized it as sovereign state.
Bihi also assured his people that Somaliland will not Cede An Inch Of Land To Anyone, referring to the contested Sool region, where the local community wants a separate state.
The president stated that LasAnod is part of Somaliland territory and will regain its control by any means, including military power, if current mediation efforts yield no fruits.
The former Somali airforce officer hoped that the remaining issues relating to the eastern border standoff between his state and the SSC-Khatumo will be resolved through dialogue.
Bihi called on Somalia’s international partners to avoid interference with Somaliland internal affairs after they accused his regional military of indiscriminately shelling LasAnod.
LasAnod war started in January after weeks of violent streets protests against the presence of Somaliland troops in the city which saw increasing targeted killings in the past years.
The doctors at the main hospitals in LasAnod put the death toll of the conflict at 299, with 1,913 injured and more than 200,000 displaced, some crossed into Ethiopia’s border.
