The government of Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia unrecognised internationally, has expressed “deep concern” over the recent upsurge in hostilities in the town of Goof in the south-eastern region of Sanaag.
In a statement to APA on Tuesday, Somaliland’s foreign ministry strongly condemned the clashes, which it described as “aggression” and attributed to militia groups “instigated by Ahmed Karaash,” the former vice president of the Puntland administration.
According to Somaliland’s intelligence services, these attacks are being carried out with the aim of disrupting the elections scheduled for November and destabilising the precious peace that has prevailed in the territory for several decades. The government has also warned that these actions threaten not only the stability of the “country” but also the security of the entire Horn of Africa region.
So far, the violence has resulted in the deaths of eight people, including five innocent nomadic herders who were brutalised in Goof, according to the authorities. Somaliland forces have retaliated by killing three members of the militia responsible for the attacks.
The government called on the international community to respond to the ‘aggression’, underlining the seriousness of the threat it poses to regional peace. In response to these events, Hargeisa has also taken measures to prevent any escalation of violence, assuring the population that the security of its citizens remains an absolute priority.
In its statement, the local government warned the instigators of the conflict that it would not tolerate any attempt at destabilisation and would take all necessary measures to protect its territory and population.
The situation remains tense and the Somaliland authorities have promised to keep the public informed as new information becomes available.
ARD/ac/lb/as/APA