By Yahya:
Las Anod, Sool, Somalia –
Only a few days passed since the Government of the internationally unrecognized Republic of Somaliland said it is “deeply disturbed” by the recent statement from the World Health Organization (WHO), which condemned Somaliland’s shelling of health facilities in Las Anod. Ignoring the WHO, Somaliland forces continued shelling the disputed city of Las Anod this week, allegedly using Ethiopian refugees as human shields.
On Tuesday, renewed violent clashes erupted in Las Anod, the contested city of Somalia’s Sool region. The battle occurred in the Maraga area, in the eastern suburbs of the city, throughout the whole day. Somaliland forces shelled the city and subsequently declared victory. Local Dhulbahante clan forces engaged in the battle and also claimed victory.
Unconfirmed social media images seen by the Somali Digest showed destroyed military vehicles and deceased soldiers believed to belong to the Somaliland military. Other unconfirmed videos, which emerged on social networks, showed Somaliland fighters wayfaring the city’s premises. Dhulbahante clan fighters stated that they were responding defensively after their positions were attacked.
Somaliland ignores WHO accusations
The Tuesday fighting and shelling of Las Anod took place only days after Somaliland issued a press release, vaguely denying WHO’s accusations of Somaliland’s previous shelling of Las Anod healthcare facilities.
The WHO statement deplored and condemned the 11 July attack, expressing concern particularly about targeting healthcare facilities. “Dozens of people were killed and injured — including healthcare workers and patients — and 2 ambulances were destroyed,” said the United Nations agency, further noting that this was the fifth time the facility had been hit since the violence in Las Anod erupted.
Oromo refugees used as a bait
Somaliland’s defiance of WHO’s concerns was evident on Tuesday as its army relentlessly continued the shelling of Las Anod. In a troubling development, reports emerged accusing Somaliland forces of using Ethiopian refugees as human shields to buy their soldiers time to advance towards the city. These refugees, purportedly belonging to the Oromo ethnic group from Ethiopia’s Oromia region, were allegedly deployed as decoys to conceal Somaliland’s offensive actions.
Dr Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, the Director General of Las Anod General Hospital, confirmed that the Somaliland army increasingly collects the Oromo people and releases them into the city. Dr Mohamed said he saw some refugees injured and others even killed.
The conflict for Las Anod
Las Anod has been under Somaliland’s control since 2007. The conflict in the city intensified following the assassination of a Dhulbahante politician in December 2022, sparking widespread protests. Armed fighting erupted on 6 February between forces from the self-declared state of Somaliland and local militia affiliated with the Dhulbahante clan.
The Dhulbahante clan, which is part of the larger Darod clan, resides in the areas of Sool, Sanaag and Buuhoodle. It historically disputed between Somaliland and Puntland and did not want to contribute to dividing the Somali state. The Dhulbahante people claim Las Anod as their capital.
According to the Protection and Return Monitoring Network, at least 200,000 people have been displaced so far from the Las Anod region due to conflict and insecurity. Experts believe that any compromise will demand more from Somaliland than from the Dhulbahante at this stage of conflict.
