LAS ANOD (Somalilandpress) — Somaliland may launch a new military offensive into the disputed regions near the Somali-border where clan insurgent leaders have been building up armed militia in the past three months.
In a move to secure it’s borders ahead of the general President elections, Somaliland has placed it’s army in the Sool region on full preparation to carry out operations along the Somaliland-Somali border. Somaliland and Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland have in the past disputed over the Sool and Sanag regions, each laying claim over it.
The army is in particular concern about the activities taking place in the town of Bur-wadal, where clan elders from the Dhulbahante tribe are meeting. Somaliland accuses them of instigating violence and is worried elements of Somalia’s Al Shabab and Ethiopia’s rebel opposition, ONLF could infiltrate into their clan militia and destabilize the whole region.
Ethiopia, who is equally worried about the group and their activities believes the ONLF may establish a safe heaven in the region if destabilized and some of the local clan members may serve along side them since they both belong to the Darod family.
Ethiopia who wants stronger ties with Somaliland has responded by delivering military aid, mainly thousands of small arms for the Somaliland army stationed in Las Anod, the provincial capital of Sool. Ethiopia also trains military personnel for Somaliland including army generals.
The elders in Bur-wadal, who are mainly from the Dhulbahante clan disapprove of Somaliland and consider themselves part of Puntland. The Dhulbahante, who inhabit parts of Sanag and Sool, belong to the Harti sub-clan of Darod like the Majeerteens of Puntland, and believe they should be with their fellow Darods including the Ogadens of Ethiopia. Somaliland on the other hand says the region falls within their 1960 pre-union borders.
In recent months, the elders with the help of the Dhulbahante Diaspora have established their own armed movement with clan militia believe to be gathering around Bur-wadal and surrounding area.
Somalilandpress has also learned that Somaliland has requested that Puntland moves its army back from the Somaliland-border, Puntland forces has since cleared off from the road between Las Anod and Garowe. It is believed that Ethiopia spearheaded the move during the visit by President Farole of Puntland and his Interior minister, Mr. Abdullahi Ahmed to Addis Ababa in early April. Mr. Farole has not returned to Puntland since and is currently in Nairobi.
According to local sources, the elders and the Dhulbahante Diasporas have lost confidence and faith in the Puntland administration and believe in establishing new administration free from Somaliland and Puntland influence. Something neither Somaliland nor Puntland approves of.
Somaliland army plans to launch the operations in the coming days.
Somaliland is expected to go to the polls on June and is funded by the US, the UK, and some European Union (EU) countries. They too have expressed interest in maintaining Somaliland’s stability and the region.
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