Biddho.com Eritrea - Rising To The Challenges! - SOMALIA: Thousands flee homes in disputed region fearing renewed clashes

Home

News

SOMALIA: Thousands flee homes in disputed region fearing renewed clashes

Written by Administrator

Monday, 22 October 2007

NAIROBI, 22 October 2007 (IRIN) - Increased tension between the self-declared republic of Somaliland and the neighbouring self-declared autonomous region of Puntland over the disputed region of Sool has led to the displacement of up to 20,000 people from the area, local sources told IRIN on 22 October.

Forces loyal to the Somaliland administration took control of the Sool regional capital Las Anod, which was previously controlled by Puntland, on 15 October.

"There are demonstrations against the arrival of Somaliland forces and large numbers of people have been leaving the town," a local journalist said. "Most of them have gone to neighbouring towns and villages for safety reasons."

A report issued on 19 October by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Somalia, said an estimated 500 families had fled Las Anod, mostly to the neighbouring southeastern district Ba'ome.

Others had fled to Garowe, nearby villages and to northeastern districts such as Hudun and Taleh. "The population is said to be in dire need of food, shelter material and medical assistance," the report said.

Abdirahman Mahamud Bankah, the Puntland minister of information told IRIN on 22 October: "Our estimate is close to 20,000 people are now displaced."

Tension created by the arrival of the Somaliland forces, he added, was hampering humanitarian assistance to those affected. Somaliland, however, dismissed the claim, saying many of the displaced were forced to flee by Puntland propaganda that said they would be harmed.

"They [Puntland] are engaged in fear mongering through the media," said Said Adani, Somaliland spokesman. "They should stop scaring people with this false propaganda. No one has been harmed since Somaliland took control of Las Anod and no one will be."

Adani said Somaliland forces were not inside the town, but remained outside to ensure the safety and security of the population. He added that only local administration people, ministers and MPs from the area were inside Las Anod to restore calm.

Bankah, however, warned the authorities of Somaliland to withdraw its forces from the region. "It should be clear to them [Somaliland] and everybody else where the people of Sool want to be," he said. "This region [Sool] along with Sanag [another disputed region] is part and parcel of Puntland."

Dismissing fears of renewed clashes, Adani said that Somaliland "will defend its borders but will not attack anyone".

Further protests were said to be taking place on 22 October.

"Demonstrators are burning tyres and blocking roads," said a local resident. "Yesterday [21 October] saw the worst demonstrations, with them burning tyres and attacking ministers from Somaliland."

Sool and Sanaag geographically fall within the borders of pre-independence British Somaliland, but most of the clans are linked to Puntland.

ah/sr

© IRIN. All rights reserved. More humanitarian news and analysis:

Comments

Add New

RSS

Only registered users can write comments!

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 23 October 2007 )

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

>> Download MP3 Song - "Egermenalo" by Wedi Tikabo

Victory To The People of Somalia!

RTL - „Steffi Graf - Legende, Mutter, Helferin. Die Reportage zum RTL-Spendenmarathon“

President Isaias Afwerki's Letter to the UN Secretary General

Meeting the Challenge - Biddho Tours through Europe

Freedom!

EXPIRED - WOYANE and UNMEE!!

The Algiers Agreement is explicit that the parties are bound to honor the Commission�s decisions

Letter dated Nov. 30'07 from the Legal Adviser to the President of Eritrea to the president of the UNSC

Ethiopia rejects "virtual" border with Eritrea

Ethiopia - Meles Zenawi calls final and binding demarcation decision `legal fiction�!

From `legal nonsense� to `legal fiction�.

Who is the Blackmailer?

Ban-Ki Moon: Messenger versus the Message

ERITREA - ETHIOPIA: Security Council�s Moment of Truth

Seven Years After Algiers

DEMARCATION IS COMPLETE - TSZ EXPIRES

With effect from midnight tonight (30.11.2007), the demarcation of Ethio-Eritrean boundary will be as complete as any demarcated interstate boundary would be, if not better defined.

STATEMENT ON UNMEE�S �RELOCATION� FROM ERITREA

Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the United Nations

Eritrea - Statement on UNMEE's "Relocation"

Eritrea - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

UNMEE - United Nations Misson for the Exploitation of Eritrea

Ambassador John Bolton Blows UNMEE’s Transparent Cover

UNMEE-Another Failed UN Peacekeeping Mission

In Defence of Eritrea

>> Visit Alenalki Special Coverage "Hzbawi Mekete"

EEBC Files

EEBC Documents

>> EEBC Press Release OF 30 NOVEMBER 2007
>> EEBC STATEMENT OF 27 NOVEMBER 2006
>> LIST OF BOUNDARY POINTS AND COORDINATES

Overview Map (PDF / Graphik)

>> International Boundary between the State of Eritrea
and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Victory! Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea won the men's world half marathon championship for the third time

EEBC ruling of 2002 indisputable!!

Algiers Agreement of Eritrea and Ethiopia is implemented!! EEBC ruling of 2002 indisputable!! All the chapters in the process have now reached a legal conclusion! President Isaias Afwerki. VIVA ERITREA!