Erigavo, Somalia – At least nine people have been killed and several others injured in clashes in Erigavo, the capital of Sanaag region, after violence broke out between Somaliland’s military and civilians in the town’s downtown market, according to local journalists.
The unrest reportedly began with a shootout between local police and armed individuals, escalating into a confrontation involving live bullets fired by Somaliland forces. The situation has further heightened tensions in the region, where rivalries between Somaliland authorities and the SSC-Khatumo administration remain unresolved.
The SSC-Khatumo administration which opposes Somaliland’s claim of separateness, accused Hargeisa-based authorities of instigating the violence. In a statement, they said:
“At 12:00 noon, the secessionist entity in Hargeisa launched an attack with various types of weapons on the people of SSC-Khatumo who were in their business places and homes. The attack caused loss of life and property.
All the losses that have happened to the people of SSC-Khatumo—the dead, injured, robbed, and arrested—were caused by the secessionist authorities, who are responsible for this attack.
We call on the international community and the Somali people as a whole to hold the secessionist authorities accountable for these recurring incidents. The SSC-Khatumo administration will take necessary action against those who shed the blood of SSC-Khatumo citizens in Erigavo.”
Overview
This is the second outbreak of violence in Erigavo in recent weeks. Last month, a similar confrontation between SSC-Khatumo forces and Somaliland troops near the town resulted in dozens of casualties.
In the beginning of 2023, the Sool region has experienced ongoing conflicts as SSC-Khatumo secured victory and ousted Somaliland from the administrative capital of Las Anod, SSC-Khatumo is a unionist administration seeking reunification with Somalia.
The Somaliland, a breakaway region from Somalia since 1991, has not yet responded to the latest accusations.
The federal government of Somalia has expressed concern about the impact of the violence on civilians and called for restraint from all sides.