By Ibrahim Jama, reporter
Hargeisa, Somalia (Somalistandard) – Local militia groups clashed with Somaliland forces near Laasaanod, a city in eastern Somaliland that the rebels captured from troops late last year, sources on both sides said, the second such confrontation in the area this week
The fighting late on Sunday took place in Goja’!ade, an area where the sides are waging separate campaigns on Saturday.
According to local sources, the militia groups made up of local men from the area who had taken up arms to defend their community against what they saw as the Somaliland government’s attempts to control the region.
The Somaliland government, on the other hand, claims that the militias are working with the neighboring Puntland state and pose a threat to the region’s security.
The clash highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by Somaliland, a self-declared state in northern Somalia that has been seeking international recognition since declaring independence in 1991.
Last year, the local militia groups captured Laasaanod, a strategic city near the border with Ethiopia, from Somaliland forces. Since then, the region has experienced a surge in violence as both sides have engaged in sporadic clashes.
Somaliland authorities have vowed to retake the city and restore law and order in the region. However, analysts warn that the situation is likely to escalate unless a political solution is found to address the underlying grievances of the local communities.
Copyright ©️ 2023 Somali Standard, All rights reserved.
