The separatist Somali region of Somaliland on Sunday accused Somalia of attacking its soldiers, in a climate of growing tension despite a ceasefire declared for two days, announced the Somaliland authorities.
The violence broke out on Monday between the Somaliland Armed Forces and militias loyal to Somalia's central government in the disputed town of Las Anod in the self-declared republic of Somaliland.
The clashes began hours after customary chiefs in Sool territory, where Las Anod is located, issued a statement pledging to support "
the unity and integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia
", urging the authorities of Somaliland to withdraw their forces from the region.
Ceasefire for ten days
Sunday morning, "
armed forces of the Federal Government of Somalia began to attack military forces of Somaliland
", according to a press release from the authorities of the self-proclaimed republic, specifying that they had sent a "
warning
" to Mogadishu.
No details were given on a possible toll of this attack.
The authorities of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, also called in the press release on the international community to put pressure on Somalia “
to withdraw its forces (armed, note) from the border with Somaliland
”.
Mogadishu did not officially react on Sunday.
The authorities of Somaliland had decreed a ceasefire on Friday evening, and had accused the next day of the militias of having attacked its soldiers.
It is difficult to obtain an accurate assessment of the clashes.
The UN said Tuesday that at least 20 people had been killed in these clashes and called on the authorities to investigate.
On Saturday, the Red Cross announced in a tweet that one of its volunteers had been shot and killed and called for “
restraint and access to neutral and impartial humanitarian actors
”.
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