Somali Lower House Speaker, Mohamed Abdirahman Mursal has called the warring sides fighting in Tukaraq town to end the hostilities between the Breakaway Somaliland and Puntland state.
Over 14 combatants from both sides were killed and dozens sustained injuries after forces loyal to both states engaged in a deadly fighting in Tukaraq town.
Both Somaliland and Puntland states have been trying to take control of the town which lies 90km away from the administrative capital of Puntland state.
Speaking to the media after the Parliamentary Standing Committees’ meeting in Mogadishu, Mursal urged the sides to opt for dialogue to resolve the dispute between the militias.
“The fighting which displaced the people of Tukaraq town must be stopped forthwith. We urge both sides to engage in a dialogue to resolve the hostilities,” said Mursal.
The speaker warned the recurring fighting in Sool region between Somaliland and Puntland states could lead to further loss of lives and massive destruction of properties.
Heavily armed forces loyal to both states had engaged in fierce gun battle mid this month.
The local authorities both states had traded accusations of the attack which took place ahead the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan.
According to the reports from Tukaraq town and its environs, hundreds of reinforcement soldiers have been amassed in area, a move that could flare up a full blown fighting between the forces.
Somaliland and Puntland both claim the ownership of the two disputed regions, Sool and Sanag.
Hargeisa base its claims on the imaginary boundaries set by the British during the colonial period as Puntland’s claim is based on clans agreement inked during the formation of the state two decades ago.
Somaliland declared independence from the rest of Somalia on 18th May 1991, but has not yet achieved any formal international recognition as sovereign state.
Discussion about this post