The United Nations has sued for an independent and impartial investigation into clashes in the separatist Somali region of Somaliland, which it said left “at least 20 dead and 119 injured”.
In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said “I am concerned about reports that clashes are continuing today and have resulted in new casualties”.
It was gathered that the clashes are between armed militias loyal to the Somali government and forces of the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland, in Las Anod, a town disputed in this region.
Las Anod is claimed by both Somaliland and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, loyal to Mogadishu.
Türk said added that “These killings come just a month after at least 20,000 people were displaced by clashes in Las Anod, and could contribute to further displacement, worsening the already fragile humanitarian situation in the region”.
“I call on the authorities to carry out a credible and impartial investigation into the clashes to determine who is responsible and to hold them accountable in fair trials,” he added.
On his part, Somalia’s president Sheikh Mohamud has called for a cease-fire. Both sides accuse the other of starting the fighting; Somaliland insisted it was defending itself from aggression.
Sheikh said “The reason for the confrontation is not due to animosity, but for political reasons. Therefore, we are sorry and not happy about what is happening there. … Respect the interest of the people, lay down arms, and stop the fighting. Start negotiating.”
Reports have it that tensions have been building in Las Anod, the capital of the contested Sool region, since December. The region has been a point of conflict between Somaliland and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, both of which lay claim to the territory.
Harping on the development, Mohamed Abdulle, a security analyst and the founder of Daludug Security Services in Somalia, said “The fighting in Las Anod was ignited by a series of killings in the town and the lack of arrests of the perpetrators. Somaliland authorities made no arrests to ease the situation. That angered the public.”
It is imperative to note that Somaliland has been governing the Sool region since capturing it from Puntland in 2008. However, the region has witnessed a series of battles between the two sides. Abdulle warns the fighting in the Sool region could impede the ongoing campaign by the federal government in central regions.
Abdulle continued that “It is possible these clashes could undermine operations against al-Shabab. Immediately clashes started, al-Shabab attacked a strategic village and briefly held it. Also, Somaliland uses the term terrorism against the locals fighting its soldiers, so that could increase the insecurity.”
On his part, Abdiaziz Issack, a security analyst with the cultural and research organization known as the Hamad Bin Khalifa Civilization Center, told VOA that the conflict in the Sool region runs deep and cannot be solved without resolving the Somalia-Somaliland dispute.
He said “There is no single solution to the conflict in Las Anod and the Sool region at large. However, it goes back to the dispute between Somalia and Somaliland. The two sides have to agree to a joint administration of the Sool region until the talks between Somalia and Somaliland are concluded.”
In a communique, clan elders, who had been meeting in Las Anod before the fresh fighting started, said they reject the administration of Somaliland over the territory. They said that the region will be governed by the federal government in Mogadishu.
Issack said that, while that stance acknowledges the authority of the federal government, President Mohamud will need to take a diplomatic path to avoid a dispute with Somaliland. He stressed that the federal government finds itself in a tight spot regarding the issue.
He said “While it might want to directly intervene, it guards against going into a collision with Somaliland. Therefore, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will just have to continue encouraging dialogue and cease-fire building on the goodwill of his government with the administration in Somaliland.”
Sadly, the fighting in Las Anod has once again ignited the long-running debate over regional autonomy in Somalia. In the past, politicians in the Sool and Sanaag regions have pushed for the formation of a federal member state referred to as Khatumo, but that initiative has not gained recognition from the federal government.
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