2023 Las Anod conflict

The 2023 Las Anod conflict is an ongoing armed conflict between the Somaliland National Army and the SSC-Khatumo Forces supported by their Harti relatives Majeerteen, Warsangali Militia's in Las Anod, the capital of the Sool region.[1][12][13][2] Fighting erupted on February 6 after Somaliland security forces held a violent crackdown on civil protests.[14][15] On February 8, the supreme Garad of Dhulbahante, Garad Jama Garad Ali, declared an intent to secede and reunite with the Federal Government of Somalia.[16][17]

2023 Las Anod conflict

Las Anod, Sool region
Date6 February 2023 – present (3 months, 1 week and 2 days)
Location
Las Anod, Somaliland (disputed)
Territorial
changes		 Somaliland National Army removed from the city borders, leaving Las Anod self-administered.
Belligerents
 Somaliland
 Somaliland National Army[1]
Casualties and losses
~300 people dead[10]
154,000-203,000 civilians displaced[11]

The conflict has killed over 300 people and displaced 153,000-203,000 refugees. The conflict has displaced thousands externally to Buuhodle and the Ethiopian border or internally to SSC-Khatumo territories of Taleex, Xudun, Buuhodle, and Puntland cities - most commonly Garowe, Galkacyo, Burtinle.[18][19] On March 16, Somaliland troops were reported to be shelling civilians from the surrounding area.[20] In late April, Amnesty International released a report accusing the Somaliland government forces of war crimes and human rights violations against civilians.

Background
Las Anod at night, circa 2021

Las Anod had been controlled by Somaliland since 2007, who ousted the Puntland army from the regional capital in 2007 with local militia support. The clan militias supporting Somaliland were loyal to Ahmed Abdi Habsade, a Puntland minister who defected to Somaliland and then returned to Puntland.[21][22] In particular, the security situation reported to have severely declined under Somaliland's control. The Raad Peace Research Institute in Mogadishu reported that "120 prominent clan and community leaders were assassinated" between 2007 and 2022 in the city proper.[23]

In December 2022, civil demonstration and unrest began to spread northwest across the Sool region, from Taleex to Kalabaydh, Xudun, Boocame and Tukaraq, driven by perceived political marginalization in Somaliland.[24] The protests were triggered by the death of Abdifatah Abdulli Hadrawi, a popular politician in the Waddani opposition party.[25] When the mass civil demonstration reached Las Anod, Somaliland security forces held a violent crackdown on the protestors in the final week of December 2022 which killed 20 people. Following bilateral talks, Somaliland troops retreated from the city to their Sool outposts to prevent further violence.[15]

Clashes

After mass protests continuing from December into January 2023, the retreat of the Somaliland troops paved the way for the return of the supreme Garad of Dhulbahante, Garad Jama Garad Ali - a community leader exiled from Las Anod since 2007.[16] Rumor spread of a grand meeting of all Dhulbahante clan elders, followed by speculation that the elders would vote to exile Somaliland security forces from the city.[26] On February 6, 2023, the Dhulbahante clan elders declared their intent to form a state government named "SSC-Khatumo" within the Federal Government of Somalia.[27] Fighting broke out earlier on the same day in Las Anod between Somaliland troops and Dhulbahante militias in the Sayadka Hill suburb (reportedly home to two committee members), with shots heard in the streets surrounding Hamd Hotel where Somaliland dignitaries were staying.[28]

On February 8, the supreme Garad of Dhulbahante, Garad Jama Garad Ali, accused the Somaliland government of genocide, called for peace and declared Las Anod's intent to be governed from Mogadishu under the Federal Government of Somalia.[29][16] Within the same week of February, fighting and civilian bombardments had killed at least 82 people in total and displaced 90% of the residents. The region had produced 185,000 internally displaced people and 60,000 refugees in February.[30] On March 2, the mayor of Las Anod reported that Somaliland forces were bombing public buildings from the surrounding countryside including government institutions and hospitals. The UN also reported a casualty count of over 200 deaths.[31]

The following clans have announced their support for the Las Anod unionist movement and sent armed militias to the city:

On April 20, Amnesty International released a report concluding a 2-month human rights investigation into the Las Anod conflict. The report called for urgent investigation into the conflict, including interviews from local citizens describing shrapnel and mortar shell deaths.[32] The report also included photos of indiscriminate 107mm rocket shelling from Somaliland security forces - confirming use of weapons banned as part of the current UN Somali arms embargo.[32][33]

Allegations of external actors

In the political fog of the conflict, both sides have alleged the presence of external actors in Las Anod. The Somaliland foreign ministry allege they are fighting foreign armed groups on the Las Anod side including the Somali National Army, Puntland Security Force, Liyu Police fighters, Al-Shabaab fighters and southern Somali states.[34]

All groups accused by Somaliland government have denied claims of organizational involvement:

The Dhulbahante clan accuse the Somaliland side of involving Djiboutian National Police officers and Chinese weaponry smuggled via Djibouti. The Djiboutian government denied these claims.[38]

See also

References
  1. Haji, Mohammed (20 February 2023). "What's driving conflict in the disputed Somali city of Las Anod?". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  2. Culay, Shiine. "Ciidankii Majeerteen iyo Warsangeli oo Laascaanood galay". Facebook. Retrieved 8 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. Shire, Maxamuud Nadif (25 March 2023). "Daawo: Beesha Ugaar Saleebaan oo ciidamo iyo hub u dirtay Jiida Laascaanood" (video). Facebook (in Somali). Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  4. Delmar, Maxamed Feysal. "Ciidanka beesha cumar maxamuud oo saaka soo Dhaqaaqay". (Video) Facebook in somali. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  5. Hassan, Abdiqani. "Beelweynta Cismaan Maxamuud oo gurmad ciidan u dirtay magaalada Laascaanood". Facebook (video). Horseen Media. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  6. Tv, Sagal. "Ciidankii Ugu Badnaa Ee cali saleebaan oo maanta U dhqaaqay magaalada laascaano,si ay u difaacaan walaalaha reer laascaano". Facebook (Video). Sagal Tv. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  7. Media, Dhulmar. "Ciidamadi ugu Badnaa Foolmaroodi ee Beesha siwaaqroon". D. Media. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  8. Abdi, Xabiibo Ladan. "Ciidankii 2aad ee ka socda Beelaha Ciise Maxamuud iyo Bah-dubays ee Cismaan Mohamud oo ka ruuqaansaday deegaanka Birta-dheer ayaa maanta gaarey furimaha dagaalka gobolka Sool". Facebook (Video). Golis. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  9. Cabdi, Ciro. "Gurmadkii beesha warsangali oo gudaha ugalay laascaanood". Fcaebook (video) somali. Ali samatar. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  10. "More deaths reported as Somaliland army accused of killing prisoners". Garowe Online. 19 March 2023. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  11. "Somalia: Flash Update No. 4 Situation in Laas Caanood, Sool Region, 3 April 2023". OCHA. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  12. Ross, Will (8 February 2022). "UN urges probe into deadly Somaliland clashes". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  13. "Thousands flee fighting in Somaliland town". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2023-03-27. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  14. Ali, Faisal (7 February 2023). "At least 24 dead in Somaliland fighting". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  15. Sheikh-Nor, Mohamed (6 January 2023). "Somaliland Withdraws Troops from Disputed Town to Halt Violence". Voice of America English News. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  16. "Somalia: We are witnessing genocide in Las Anod - elder". Garowe Online. 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  17. Ali, Garad Jama (19 March 2023). "BBC World News - Garad Jama Ali declares Dhulbahante intent to merge Sool with federal Somali govt" (video). YouTube. BBC World News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  18. Kulkarni, Pavan (2023-04-06). "Dozens more killed defending unionist city of Las Anod from separatist Somaliland". Peoples Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  19. "Somalia: Flash Update No. 4 Situation in Laas Caanood, Sool Region, 3 April 2023". OCHA. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  20. "Somalia: Somaliland asked to withdraw troops from SSC regions". Garowe Online. 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  21. "Somalia: Protests in Las Anod against visiting Somaliland ministers". 22 October 2007. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  22. Hoehne, Markus Virgil (2015). "Between Somaliland and Puntland" (PDF). Rift Valley Institute. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2023 – via Reliefweb.
  23. Dhaysane, Mohammed (22 February 2023). "At least 112 people killed in fighting in Somaliland". Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  24. Kulkarni, Pavan (18 January 2023). "Protests in Breakaway Somaliland Call for Reunification with Somalia". Toward Freedom. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  25. "More than 20 'pro-greater Somalia' protesters killed in Lasanod". Garowe Online. 31 December 2022. Archived from the original on 11 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  26. "Grand entry of exiled traditional elders in Las Anod major concerns for Somaliland". Garowe Online. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  27. Haji, Mohammed (20 February 2023). "What's driving conflict in the disputed Somali city of Las Anod?". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  28. "Somalia: Fresh fighting breaks out in Las Anod city". Garowe Online. 6 February 2023. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  29. Ali, Garad Jama (19 March 2023). "BBC World News - Garad Jama Ali declares Dulbahante intent to merge Sool with federal Somali govt" (video). YouTube. BBC World News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  30. Ahmed, Kaamil (22 February 2023). "Tens of thousands of refugees flee from Somaliland clashes". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  31. "More than 200 killed, nearly 700 wounded in Somaliland clashes". TRT World. 2 March 2023. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  32. "Investigate Somaliland killings, says Amnesty International". Amnesty International. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  33. "UN extends Somalia arms embargo amid government dissatisfaction". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  34. "The Republic of Somaliland's response to the US State Department Statement". Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  35. "Beenin hadal ka soo yeeray maamulka ridada Somaliland" [Denying the allegations of apostate Somaliland administration] (PDF). Somalimemo (in Somali). 9 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. "Afar arrimood oo ku gadaaman dagaalka Laascaanood". BBC News Somali (in Somali). 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  37. "Ethiopia denies sending troops to Las Anod, Somalia". Garowe Online. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  38. "Somalia: Djibouti denies links to mass murders in Las Anod". Garowe Online. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
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