Las Anod Clan Elders 'Give Up' On Puntland Govt

[Jacaylbaro]

Garowe, Somalia, 8 June 2008 - Clan elders who represent the dominant clan in Sool region, in northern Somalia, issued a document on Sunday stating that they have "given up" on the regional government of Puntland.

The document was signed by seven elders representing the *********** clan that dominates the region of Sool, which has been a battleground area between Puntland and the breakaway republic of Somaliland since 2002.

 

In October 2007, Somaliland troops aided by some *********** fighters seized control of the Sool provincial capital Las Anod for the first time.

 

The clan elders fled Las Anod following the Somaliland takeover and lived for months in Garowe, the capital of Puntland.

 

According to the signed document, this group of *********** elders left Garowe in April after Puntland leader Gen. Adde Muse refused to take steps aimed at regaining control of Las Anod and being treated with "disrespect" by unnamed officials at the State House.

 

The elders have lived in the town of Tukarak - on the road between Garowe and Las Anod - for the past 75 days, where they have held extensive discussions with intellectuals, military officers and Diaspora members regarding the delicate situation in Las Anod.

 

The elders criticized the Puntland leadership' s excuse for inaction by claiming that the *********** clan is "divided" on Las Anod, saying: "The [***********] Clan held a meeting in November [2007] that was attended by all clan chiefs to show that the clan is not divided...and prepared clan militias and weapons to reinforce the [Puntland] Administration."

 

The elders' signed document stated that the *********** clan has "given up" on the Puntland government, which is accused of "not having any interest in the absence of Las Anod."

 

The elders called on the *********** clan to hold an emergency meeting so they can consult on the liberation of Las Anod and decide on future relations with the Adde Muse administration.

 

Puntland soldiers have not been paid over the past five months and recently President Muse told his troops that the government is unable to pay their salaries.

 

Some of the soldiers have reportedly began joining pirates, who have netted millions of dollars from ransom payments in recent months.

 

 

Source: Garowe Online