Puntland Vice President Ahmed Osman Karaash visited Las Anod, a town at the centre of conflict between SSC-Khaatumo and Somaliland. Mr Karaash’s visit intended to assess the situation in the war-torn Sool region. It occurred less than a week after SSC forces captured the Gooja’adde base and forced away the Somaliland forces.
Las Anod, Sool region, SOMALIA. By Yahya:
Puntland’s Vice President received a warm welcome in Las Anod. The main streets of Las Anod were decorated, and the people turned out in large numbers to greet Mr Karaash. The withdrawal of Somaliland forces marked a turning point in the region, in which Mr Karaash played an important role. He had campaigned against Somaliland’s reign in SSC since at least 2012 when he helped to establish the Khaatumo administration and became its Vice President.
On his journey, the Vice President also visited the city of Guumays, about 80 km west of Las Anod. The SSC-Khaatumo troops are still stationed there after repelling the Somaliland forces last Friday.
A historic victory for the SSC
The fierce battle on 25 August, which saw SSC forces driving out Somaliland troops from Gooja’adde, marked a historic victory for the local community. This community decided to establish its own regional state within Somalia instead of pursuing secession.
Despite international partners’ calls for a ceasefire, which raised eyebrows to some observers, the Somaliland army had adamantly refused to give up Las Anod. In response to the Gooja’adde base’s capture, Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi pledged revenge against SSC-Khaatumo forces, who had killed his soldiers and taken many others as prisoners of war. He also assured the people of Somaliland of the government’s resolute commitment to protect its self-declared territories. Nonetheless, the situation appears reasonably calm since the dramatic events of 25 August.
Puntland has been firmly denying any involvement in the Las Anod conflict, countering Somaliland’s accusations. The Federal Member State always asserted that it plays “no part” in the SSC-Khaatumo struggle in Somalia’s Sool region.
