SOMALIA: Somaliland clashes displace thousands

[Somalina]

HARGEISA, 10 February 2011 (IRIN) - More than 3,000 people have been displaced from settlements in Somaliland's eastern region of Toghdeer following a five-hour-long battle on 7 February between the Somaliland National Army and clans loyal to the Sool, Sanag and Cayn (SSC) milita group.

 

A long-standing dispute exists over the territories of Cayn, Sool and Sanag, with both the self-declared republic of Somailiand, in northwestern Somalia, and the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland in the northeast claiming them. SSC are fighting to remain part of the original state of Somalia.

 

Abdullahi Yusuf Koreey, an elder from the area, told IRIN that more than 500 families (3,000 people) were displaced from the village of Hagoogane. "Most are pastoralists."

 

He said the area had been suffering from severe water shortages before the fighting. "Many of the families have gone to areas with little or no water points. If their lives were difficult before it is 10 times worse now," said Koreey.

 

"We know about 100 families were displaced to Buhotle District from Kalshale, Maygagle and Hagoogane villages [north of Buhotle]," said Faisal Jama, an independent journalist in Las-anod, the main town in the SSC region.

 

A local journalist told IRIN the fighting was over water and land.

 

He said many of those displaced were in areas difficult to access. "They are nowhere where aid agencies can access them."

 

Over 30 killed

 

Ahmed H Abdillahi Roraye, director-general of the resettlement and refugees department of Somaliland's ministry of interior, told IRIN that another 120 families had been displaced to Burao, capital of the Toghdeer region.

 

"We are now sending an assessment team to evaluate the number of displaced in the area," he said.

 

According to journalists in the area, the 7 February clashes killed at least 32 and injured nearly 60 people. Gen Nuh Tani, Somaliland’s army chief, told the media the same day that at least four of his soldiers were killed in the conflict.

 

"According to information we have received from the Somali Red Crescent in Galka'ayo [south-central Somalia], 21 people were taken to hospital, but two of them died on the way," said an official from Somaliland's Red Crescent who requested anonymity.

 

Another 31 people have been hospitalized in Burao, according to army sources.

 

Aid workers say continued clashes will increase the suffering of people already dealing with severe drought. "This will make things worse for people who were also suffering the worst drought they have ever experienced," the Somali Red Crescent source said. "And we are worried that if the conflict continues it will be difficult to reach people in the area."

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Kuwan irin ma jidbaalay akhriyan iyaguna kulaha 1000s displaced Meesha la isku dagalay ba shacab ba degana

[Taleexi]

Maxaa laysugu dagaalayaa haddaan dadba deganayn.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

kalshaale dee wa dhul daaqsin waxa la isku dilaya ,, in dhulka an dagaal ka dhicin. hadaydan ciidanka qaranka so weerarin dagaal ba ma dhaceen

[Taleexi]

Abti, ciidanka habruhu wax ha iska celiyo, koleyba nabadii diideye bal colaadu meesha ay ina geyso waa dhowrnaa!

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^^ eeg watan sheegeyo dagaal uun baad hurinaysan nabada aad baad u necebtihin laakin anagu nabada baanu ka shaqeyneyna nabada dalkayaga waanu ilaalinayna anagu.

[Taleexi]

Is your peace quest displacing, maiming, killing and causing havoc in SSC regions? if that is the case we need to coin a common definition about the term "peace" as such we can avoid further confusion yaa Xaaji.

[Mayaani]

Xaaji adaa nabada diidan dhul aadan lahayn baad goosanayaa leedahay. Nabadu waxay ku jirtaa in dadka xaqooda iyo doonistooda la ilaaliyo.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Actually taleexi abti it's the rebels who refused peace and they used kalshaale disputed area between the two brotherly clans as a reason to declare a war on the Somaliland armed forces. who are stationed there in the buhoodle district as peacekeeping forces in between the various clans in the Buhoodle region it's the rebels they are the one who are using the clan card to get sympathy fromt he diaspora community and their Tribesmen with in the country. But we know what your plans are and it's not going to happen. the rebels will be cleaned from south eastern togdheer.

[nuune]

Xaaji Xeyraan, is every SSC origin a rebel? I need one page explanation if you have spare time now PLEASE

[Taleexi]

Xaaji Xunjuf;694243 wrote:

Actually taleexi abti it's the rebels who refused peace and they used kalshaale disputed area between the two brotherly clans as a reason to declare a war on the Somaliland armed forces. who are stationed there in the buhoodle district as peacekeeping forces in between the various clans in the Buhoodle region it's the rebels they are the one who are using the clan card to get sympathy fromt he diaspora community and their Tribesmen with in the country. But we know what your plans are and it's not going to happen. the rebels will be cleaned from south eastern togdheer.

Dee armuu cleaning-ku idinla dheeraadaa, bal noo soo dedejiya ragow kibirka waa lagu kufaa kaa ha la ogaado

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

nuune;694244 wrote:

Xaaji Xeyraan

, is every SSC origin a rebel? I need one page explanation if you have spare time now PLEASE

no ofcourse not the rebels are the qarandiids and nabaddiids only, and they should not be confused with the noble people of sool sanaag and cayn the majority of the people of ssc origin are peace loving Somalilanders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Saalax]

^^ Well said.

[RedSea]

Lool xaajigu indho adkaa Saxib dadkan dhulkooda aan iska dayno laakin waan kugu raacsan ahay in militia dagaalka soo qaaday ay ku horeeyen gacanta. They were very careless in their calculations and as such have invited trouble.

[Taleexi]

Red Sea: Ma toobad keenay