Autonomist forces fighting since February for the separation of the city of Las Anod from Somaliland, proclaimed on Monday evening the “ end of aggression against the territories under its control, believing that it had achieved its war aims. This unilateral announcement comes after heavy fighting forced the Somaliland army to withdraw from strategic bases in recent days. The autonomist administration now advocates the ” peaceful coexistence “.
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It sounds like a victory statement. It is signed by the administration of the SSC-Khaatumo, the autonomist force which since February has governed the three territories around Las Anod wanting to separate from Somaliland, Sool, Sanaag and Cayn, three territories held by the Dhulbahante clan. He claims to have “ ended the war of aggression » from Somalilandthe self-declared state of northern Somalia, driving out its troops.
The SSC-Khaatumo also evokes the case of prisoners of the Somaliland army, the withdrawal of its soldiers to allow the return of displaced persons and the restoration of public services. And he concludes by affirming that he would not invade not an inch of land belonging to a neighboring clan “and undertakes not to” enter Somaliland “, while advocating the return to a normal commercial and political life.
Fighting has been fierce in recent days around Las Anod. On Friday, a strategic base was taken by SSC-Khaatumo forces, after which Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi vowed to “ take revenge », repeating that his army was « intact “. A large patriotic meeting was also organized in its capital, Hargeisa, this Tuesday, to support the army. There is therefore nothing to indicate that Somaliland is admitting defeat.