Somali Senate House Speaker, Abdi Hashi Abdullahi on Sunday urged leaders of Puntland and Somaliland states to end hostilities amid tension is escalating in Tukaraq town.
Over twenty combatants have been killed and dozens were wounded after forces loyal to both states engaged in deadly fighting on Thursday.
Speaking to the media, Abdullahi called on the sides to engaged in dialogue to resolve the differences.
“I urge both leaders of the areas to stop the fighting and lead people to live peacefully,” the speaker said.
The call by the speaker comes on the president Farmajo’s message urging sides halt the fighting and engage in talks.
“I want to send a plea to the Somalis who are shedding blood in Tukaraq town: I call for an urgent cessation of fire and an end to the bloodshed,” said the president at a mosque on Friday.
Both sides blamed the other for starting the violence. The tension is still as both sides reportedly employed light and heavy guns near Tukaraq District, about 1,100km northwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu.
Somaliland and Puntland have hand long-standing border disputes, particularly over Sool and Sanaag regions that separate them.
Somaliland in the northwest declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 but has since failed to win international recognition.
Puntland was established as a semi-autonomous authority in 1998 but remains a member state of the federal government of Somalia.
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