Nairobi (Somalistandard) – The UK government is facing widespread criticism for refusing to release its assessment of who was responsible for the killing of pro-Somalia activists during a demonstration in the contested city of Las Anod earlier this year.
According to a report by Declassified UK, the Foreign Office rejected a freedom of information request, arguing that disclosure of the information could damage the UK’s relationship with Somaliland and threaten national security.
The UK has provided funding for Somaliland’s security forces, including a unit that is suspected of carrying out the massacre, despite not officially recognising Somaliland as an independent state.
Las Anod, home to around a quarter of a million people, is claimed by both Somalia’s federal government and the breakaway pro-Somalia union clan militias, affiliated with Dhulbahante clan.
The killings at the demonstration in January sparked months of bloody fighting between the two sides, resulting in the deaths of around 148 civilians, according to research by the charity Action on Armed Violence.
In a recent report, Amnesty International has accused Somaliland security forces of indiscriminately shelling the town, damaging hospitals, schools, and mosques. The human rights group also claimed that up to 600 people have been injured and 200,000 others have fled as a result of the recent fighting.
Civilians, including women, children, and healthcare workers, were among those killed in the attacks involving rockets, mortars, and other explosive weapons.
Dr Iain Overton, executive director of Action on Armed Violence, has criticised the UK government’s decision to withhold vital information about the violence against civilian protesters in Las Anod.
Overton argued that the refusal to engage undermines transparency, which is essential for public trust. He called on all parties to prioritise the protection of civilians and work towards a peaceful resolution.
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