Troops from the Somali region of Somaliland have withdrawn from the town of Las Anod, in dispute with the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, following a series of clashes that have left around 20 people dead.
According to information gathered by the Somali news portal Garowe Online, the troops have withdrawn from the area under pressure from local militiamen and some residents, who have expressed their dissatisfaction with the fighting.
Local sources have indicated that «many people are fleeing the possibility of further fighting» and acknowledged that the situation is «unpredictable». Further fighting was reported on Wednesday, with no reports of casualties.
The main target of the protests in recent days has been Somaliland’s President Muse Bihi Abdi, who is accused of orchestrating political assassinations against his rivals and other dissidents. He is also accused of clinging to power with an illegitimate mandate, which ended last December, with no elections having been held so far «for technical reasons», according to the authorities.
The Somaliland authorities, it should be recalled, have described themselves as an independent republic of Somalia since 1991 and, since then, have been trying for decades to obtain a recognition that, so far, has not been granted by any country.
Somali President Hassan Shaykh Mohamud has called for calm and dialogue to resolve the territorial dispute, which dates back to 2007, when Somaliland seized control of the town from Puntland.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
