Somalia Posted February 10, 2012 http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/02/09/somalia-conflict-idUKL2E8D9BN420120209 HARGEISA Feb 9 (Reuters) - The breakaway territory of Somaliland is battling its own secessionists in a dispute that has raised tensions with neighbouring Puntland, in an area of Somalia usually more peaceful than the rest of the country. The fighting first erupted in January after the leaders of the northern regions of Sool, Sanaag and Cyan decided to band together into a new state called Khaatumo and declared they wanted to be an independent region within Somalia. Somaliland's troops have since clashed with militia fighters loyal to Khaatumo, with reports of dozens of casualties. Puntland's President Abdirahman Mohamud Farole stepped into the row on Wednesday, accusing Somaliland of creating chaos. "It is unfortunate that Somaliland is sowing seeds of insecurity in the peaceful towns of Puntland at a time the world is solving the entire country's violence," he told reporters, calling for Somaliland to pull its troops back. The newly declared Khaatumo state is near the border with Ethiopia and is a disputed area that Somaliland seized from Puntland in 2007, though relations between the two territories have improved since. The chairman of Khaatumo's foreign relations forum, Osman Hassan, has said unless the dispute is resolved "it is bound to escalate into a wider regional conflagration as other clans related to one side or the other take sides". Both Somaliland and Puntland have enjoyed relatively stability compared to the rest of the Horn of Africa country and international mining and oil exploration firms are prospecting in both regions. The fighting also comes ahead of a conference in London on Feb. 23 bringing together heads of government and international organisations to discuss ways to end the instability in Somalia. Somaliland is an internationally unrecognised state that declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Fighting between Somaliland forces and Khaatumo fighters flared up again on Wednesday near the border town of Buhoodle, after a week-long stalemate, forcing thousands to flee. "Somaliland's national army has repulsed the attack by the Khaatumo militia, which attacked them in the early hours of the morning (on Wednesday), after the arrival of reinforcements," Somaliland's Minister of Defence Ahmed Ali Adami told Reuters. Adami said three government soldiers were killed and 12 wounded in Wednesday's fighting. Mohamed Yousouf, a member of Khaatumo's new administration, told Reuters by phone from Buhoodle, they had lost six fighters and 11 were wounded. He said they had captured four Somaliland soldiers, while seven of their fighters had been seized. "Somaliland and Puntland claim that the Khaatumo region is part of their territory, but we want to be an autonomous region that is part of the Federal Republic of Somalia," he said. "We have had no communication with the government in Puntland at all," Yousouf said. (Additional reporting by Hussein Ali Noor in Hargeisa and Abdiqani Hassan in Bosasso; Editing by David Clarke) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayidSomal Posted February 10, 2012 I must be humourless or the said articles is not what it is billed to be. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingofkings Posted February 10, 2012 "Somaliland's national army has repulsed the attack by the Khaatumo militia, which attacked them in the early hours of the morning (on Wednesday), after the arrival of reinforcements," Somaliland's Minister of Defence Ahmed Ali Adami told Reuters. :rolleyes::D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Somalia Posted February 10, 2012 It's highly ironic and I love irony. It's my kind of comedy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingofkings Posted February 10, 2012 Somalia;787618 wrote: It's highly ironic and I love irony. It's my kind of comedy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xiinfaniin Posted February 10, 2012 That is why Khatumo is the only kiniini separatists ay ku daawoobi karaan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xaaji Xunjuf Posted February 10, 2012 Whats so funny they are secessionists Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mario B Posted February 10, 2012 HARGEISA Feb 9 (Reuters) - The breakaway territory of Somaliland is battling its own secessionists..... ---------- :D:D ROLF Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taleexi Posted February 10, 2012 Secessionist vs. Secessionist .... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AsadSL Posted February 10, 2012 I wouldnt even call you guys secessionist as you don't even have that much power. stay in buuhodle which bordor town in ethiopia and somaliland. All you want and make some more noise Jaandheer ect. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mario B Posted February 10, 2012 Secessionist vs. Secessionist .... ------------ It's more like Secessionist Vs Unionist.....and InshaAllah the unionist will prevail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
