Fighting between the army of the self-declared state of Somaliland and local forces in the disputed town of Las Anod entered its 17th day on Wednesday, witnesses said.
Despite the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Somaliland government last week and the withdrawal of soldiers from the town, fighting continues in Las Anod. The government blames the city’s militiamen, who went into insurrection last month after the assassination of a local businessman and who are now demanding the attachment of Las Anod to neighboring Somalia.
Cut off from the world, the crossroads city near Puntland has suffered significant damage and has many victims, as explained by a Doctor, from a Hospital in Las Anod.
According to the Doctor, some were medical personnel, women, children, or even the elderly “who nevertheless stood far from the combat zone”. Tuesday’s attack was among the most violent, he said. “It started at 5:30 a.m. The Somaliland army attacked the town and tried to conquer it, again. It was repelled by local armed civilians who organized themselves. For the balance sheet, my estimate is around 60 war wounds, including 6 dead, ”explains the doctor.