The President of Puntland State, Abdiweli Ali Gaas on Monday appointed a new governor for Sool region in northern Somalia.
Both Puntland and Somaliland have been in a contest over Sool and Sanag regions with each side claiming control.
In a presidential decree, Gaas replaced the former governor with Abukar Ali Guelleh.
According to the statement issued by the presidency, the president has appointed the governor through the recommendation of Puntland interior ministry and consultations with the local people in the area.
The appointment comes amid high tension over the control of the region led fierce fighting between forces loyal to Puntland and Somaliland States.
The fighting between Somaliland and Puntland erupted outside the village of Tukaraq.
It lies between the main towns of Las Anod in the breakaway Somaliland state and self-declared republic – and Garowe in Puntland state.
Territorial disputes in the region go back to the colonial era when Britain colonized Somaliland and Italy colonized the rest of Somalia.
The people in Sool region are represented in both the Somaliland and Puntland administrations.
Somaliland announced its secession from the rest of Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized as an independent state.
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