Somalia: Fresh violence erupts in Las Anod city

LAS ANOD, Somalia - The endless wrangles in Las Anod town in northern Somalia escalated on Tuesday, multiple sources confirmed, with the Somaliland army and the SSC-Khatumo forces exchanging gunfire, even in the middle of the calls for both parties to embrace ceasefire.

According to officials, artilleries were fired in the troubled town presumably by the Somaliland army, triggering a fight back by SSC-Khatumo, who are fighting to be governed from Mogadishu instead of Hargeisa, the regional administrative capital of Somaliland.

Further reports show that as many as 20 people may have died in Tuesday's battle, with the majority believed to be members of the Somaliland army. Locals have been pushing for the withdrawal of the Somaliland army, but regional leader Muse Bihi Abdi is yet to sanction such a move.

A few days ago, the World Health Organization [WHO] confirmed an attack on a local facility, insisting that mortar shells were fired at a nearby health facility, leading to the death of healthcare workers and serious injuries to others. The fighting, WHO added, destroyed two ambulances.

But in a rejoinder, Somaliland regional administration vowed to safeguard the lives of locals, infrastructure, and hospitals but accused SSC-Khatumo of engaging in criminal activities. In addition, the government has been linking Puntland and the federal government of Somalia to the current situation.

However, in separate statements, the Puntland administration and Mogadishu denied involvement in the conflict, calling for peaceful resolutions. But Said Abdullahi Deni, the regional leader of Puntland, vowed to chip in and protect lives in Las Anod if Somaliland "fails to protect civilians".

Statistics indicate that over 300 people have died in the conflict which intensified in January this year, with over 200,000 getting displaced from their respective homes. The federal government of Somalia has persistently called for a truce between the warring parties, adding that mediation should be embraced to solve the conflict.

GAROWE ONLINE