To stop the violence, Somaliland withdrew its troops from the disputed town.
After days of violent protests, the security forces of the Somaliland breakaway republic left the disputed border town of Las Anod on Thursday. Although Somaliland, which separated from Somalia in 1991, governs the town, it is claimed by the Puntland State of Somalia. Following the shooting death of a lawmaker there last week, anti-government rallies broke out, sparking skirmishes with the police in which at least eight more people died.
The town of Las Anod was tranquil again on Thursday, according to Mayor Abdirahim Ali, after traditional authorities urged everyone to keep the peace while Somaliland withdrew its forces.
He claims that the commanders of the troops stationed in the town gave orders for them to leave and go back to their original posts. Ali claims that everyone who supports security and peace in Las Anod—elders, businesspeople, and others—has committed to collaborate in order to bring back the tranquilly that once reigned in this town.
Following violent skirmishes between anti-government protestors and police last week, Somaliland sent troops to the contentious border town.
The protests started when a local lawmaker was shot and killed. On Wednesday, when a shopkeeper was also killed, the protests got bigger.
At least 15 individuals were murdered in the violence during the previous week, according to medical sources in Las Anod, while only eight deaths were reported by Dr. Abdirahim Warfa, who works at the town’s major public hospital.
The northern portion of Somaliland, which seceded from Somalia in 1991, is under the charge of Las Anod, which is claimed by Somalia’s Puntland State.
Although Somaliland is self-governing and more stable than Somalia, it is not an officially recognised nation.
READ ALSO: In Central Somalia, two suicide bombings leave 15 people dead
According to Hassan Sheikh, a political analyst at the Somali National University, the people of La Anod identify more with Somalia than Somaliland.
He claimed that political complaints are a significant contributor to the violence in Las Anod because citizens do not have representatives who correspond to their social, economic, and territorial groups in governing organisations.
The director of the Nairobi-based HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies, Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad, claimed that Somaliland had failed to persuade the people of Las Anod to back its breakaway from Somalia.
He claimed that despite the population’s opposition, the project to separate Somaliland off from the rest of Somalia hasn’t been successful in the fifteen years since its administration was created in Las Anod. According to Abdisamad, Somaliland attempted to use force to persuade them, which is impossible.
Commanders of the Somaliland army said that they left the town to stop things from getting worse, but that they would still stop trouble if it happened again.
The rebellion in Las Anod, according to Sheikh, might inspire others and spread from town to town. He said that could hurt Somaliland’s political goal, which is to break away from Somalia.
President of Somaliland Muse Bihi dismissed worries about the violent disturbance on Wednesday, calling it an “incidental conflict between the police and the people.”
In addition to promising an investigation into the violence, Bihi reportedly vowed to defend the region if neighbouring Puntland started a conflict.
There have frequently been violent border clashes between Somaliland and Puntland in the past.
Despite being generally stable, Somaliland has seen violent protests that have caused worry abroad.
At least five people were killed and many more were hurt when police and supporters of the opposition fought over postponed elections in August.
