Armed clashes have been taking place on the Somaliland-Somalia border around the disputed town of Las Anod for about 20 days. The fighting has now moved up the road, closer to the neighboring Somali state of Puntland, which Somaliland now accuses of having “attacked” its army.
On Monday, Somaliland’s defense minister accused Puntland of attacking his forces near Las Anod and at Tukaraq on the road to Garowe, Puntland’s administrative capital. The road was the site of fighting.
“We have no choice, said Abdiqani Mahamoud Ateye, but to defend our territory and protect our people. »
The following day, his government announced the quartering of his army far from Las Anod. But nothing has been done on the ground, without it being possible to determine, from an independent source, what is going on there.
The Somaliland government said on Monday it “alert” the international community that the Puntland administration has now “declared war” on it by “openly aligning itself,” it says, with terrorist groups seeking to occupy and expand its influence.