United Nations (UN) envoy to Somalia, Michael Keating has called for forthwith cease-fire in Tukaraq, a disputed town in northern Somalia.
Dozens of people killed and hundreds of residents displaced after forces loyal to Puntland and Somaliland states engaged in deadly gun battle on Tuesday.
With both sides claiming upper hand, the clashes lasted in late hours of Tuesday night as both rival troops called for reinforcement from Garowe and Hargeisa towns respectively.
In a statement, Keating urged the leaders of Puntland and Somaliland states to ease the tension.
“The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Michael Keating, joins the country’s President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmaajo” in calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities between ‘Somaliland’ and Puntland forces following recent fighting in the Tukaraq area of the Sool region” the statement reads in part.
Keating called on both sides to engage in dialogue to work towards a ceasefire and political agreement.
“It also emphasizes the enormous risks posed by the fighting. These range from the possible displacement of tens of thousands of people – at a time when humanitarian needs are already outstripping available funds – to fuelling instability and discord, which support the objectives of violent extremists,” he said.
UN call comes on the heel on the directive by President Mohamed Farmaajo calling for an end to the fighting in Tukaraq.
“The killings must stop immediately and everything should be resolved through negotiation, there is no way to kill one another as we prepare to enter the holy month of Ramadan,” President Farmajo said.
Somaliland and Puntland both claim ownership of Sool and Sanaag regions that lie between them.
Somaliland declared independence from the rest of Somalia in May 1991.
But it has not yet achieved any formal international recognition as a sovereign state
Discussion about this post