Fighting displaces thousands in Somaliland

[xiinfaniin]

 

 

Thursday, February 09, 2012

 

HARGEISA/NAIROBI (IRIN) - More than 1,000 families (about 6,000 people) have been displaced from the town of Buuhoodle and nearby villages in eastern Somaliland after heavy fighting on 8 February between the Somaliland Army and clan militias loyal to the newly created Khatumo State, locals told IRIN.

 

The area has been disputed, with both the self-declared republic of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia, and the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland in the northeast, claiming them.

 

Khatumo State was established on 12 January by clans from the area that want to remain part of the larger Somalia.

 

Abdi Farah Abdulle, an elder in Buuhoodle, told IRIN that people had been moving from the area for fear of being caught in the fighting since 26 January when the first clashes erupted. "But after yesterday's fighting, many families have left the town. This morning many more are leaving. I saw many families using whatever means they can to get out."

 

Abdulle said most of the displaced fled the nearby villages of Sooljooto, Maygagle and Shangale. Most of the displaced were living in the open with no proper shelter, he said.

 

He said the area had been suffering from severe water shortages before the clashes. "These families have gone to areas with few or no water points. One drum [200 litres] of water costs around 120,000 shillings [about US$4], an amount the vast majority cannot afford."

 

Abdulle said the movement of people was still ongoing, since the armed groups were still facing each other.

 

A local journalist told IRIN the fear in Buuhoodle and nearby villages was that fighting could resume any time.

 

He said many of those displaced were in areas difficult to access. "So far no aid has reached them and some are living in the open."

 

He said no fighting had taken place in Buuhoodle since 8 February but the frontlines were only 18km from the town.

 

Exact casualty figures were not available. "We have seen 10 dead and 20 injured but those are the ones who reached the town. We don’t know how many have died on the frontlines,” the journalist said.

 

Dialogue

 

Abdillahi Jama Geeljire, Somaliland's Minister of Fisheries and Ports, told IRIN that Somaliland forces had not initiated the clashes. "Our forces were attacked by a clan militia and had to defend themselves."

 

Geeljire said the Somaliland authorities would do whatever was necessary to end the conflict through dialogue. "We are offering them to discuss whatever grievances [they have] and cease their hostile activities."

 

He said Somaliland would do whatever was necessary to make sure "no more blood of our people [buuhoodle residents] is spilled".

 

He did, however, warn that Somaliland would defend its territory. "Somaliland is capable of defending its territorial integrity and we will do so if forced."

 

He said the conflict had the potential to spread and destabilize the whole region - "something we don’t want to see but those who are behind these attacks must cease and desist".

[xiinfaniin]

Khatumo State was established on 12 January by clans from the area that want to remain part of the larger Somalia.

[xiinfaniin]

He did, however, warn that Somaliland would defend its territory. "Somaliland is capable of defending its territorial integrity and we will do so if forced."

 

He said the conflict had the potential to spread and destabilize the whole region - "something we don’t want to see but those who are behind these attacks must cease and desist".

 

:D@ Somaliland's territorial integrity

 

Geeljire is indeed a Geeljire

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Xiinfaniin every nation has the right to protect its territory Somalia should learn from Somaliland.

[xiinfaniin]

xaaji xunjuf, Oodweyne promised the mother of all wars and so far reer Buuhoodle (a sub sub sub sub clan ) is holding the unionist forte. You are driven to London by Khatumo , and in due time you will be beaten to shape to accept Mogadishu as your capital .

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Xiinfanin Mogadisho is not the enemy of hargeysa and we do recognize Mogadishu as the capital city of Somalia

 

And hargeysa is the capital city of Somaliland as it was the past 20 years.

 

remember it was hargeysa in 1960

 

Mogadisho iyo hargeysaan islaha walaaleeh labada meelood eh

 

So you're saying khaatumites are taxi drivers and they will be driving Siilaanyo to the conference:D

 

I told you so Xiinfanin Khaatumo iyo Siilaanyo ma kala foga they are one they are one nation, pirates are not involved other than we condemn the Somaliland govt:D

[Jiiroow Bakaal]

Ictiraafkii waa sii fogaanayaa maalinba maalinta ka dambeysa

Hadda UN iyo OCHA ayaaba qoreysa in dadka degaanka yihiin UNIONISTAYAAL

Dee bahasha looma dhama looool

[xiinfaniin]

xx, those you call pirates whom we think your betters are sophisticated bunch , on land and on the sea , they are very tough to beat. The snare they set up in London is what is getting Siilaanyo trapped

 

Going back to the real deal Khatumo is the most ingenious political product ever produced; it is only one month old, and it already got most of the separatist masses to the streets, it defeated a twenty year militia , and cleverly changed the political discourse of the region. 100 years ago, Taleex sent a man with a horse and riffle , today with a simple of stroke of pen, Taleex issued a final communique for the terroterial integrity of Somalia, the nation Sayid Mohamed helped shape its political contours and nature

[Carafaat]

Jiiroow Bakaal;787196 wrote:

Ictiraafkii waa sii fogaanayaa maalinba maalinta ka dambeysa

Hadda UN iyo OCHA ayaaba qoreysa in dadka degaanka yihiin UNIONISTAYAAL

Dee bahasha looma dhama looool

 

Don't you think we unionist(me and Siilanyo) know that?

[SomaliNationalist]

In the last 20 years, somaliland was claiming it was peacefull and a multi-tribal project, but now its comitting genocide aganist tribes in Sool and Awdal, it has indeed been exposed. Long live the struggle aganist SNM!

[Faarax-Brawn]

He did, however, warn that Somaliland would defend its territory. "Somaliland is capable of defending its territorial integrity and we will do so if forced."

 

He said the conflict had the potential to spread and destabilize the whole region - "something we don’t want to see but those who are behind these attacks must cease and desist".

 

:D@ Somaliland's territorial integrity

 

These Somalis are wacked up wallahi... How can a Somali person(s) defend a Somali territory From another Somali ? [Yes,I know the absurdity of it). You can say 2 clans are fighting over dhul, but, to say "wadankeyga, Somali baa ka ilaalinaa, is just absurd. Waa Riyo.

[Mario B]

These Somalis are wacked up wallahi... How can a Somali person(s) defend a Somali territory From another Somali ? [Yes,I know the absurdity of it). You can say 2 clans are fighting over dhul, but, to say "wadankeyga, Somali baa ka ilaalinaa, is just absurd. Waa Riyo.

 

--------------

 

Landers have twisted logic. I hope in years to come they can look back and remember how absurd they were.

[Mario B]

Xiinfaniin every nation has the right to protect its territory Somalia should learn from Somaliland.

------------

 

*smh*

[Taleexi]

IRIN reported only one side of the story - To be balance, they should as well talked to the Khatumo side ....

[Mario B]

^^ It may be one-sided but it still looks bad for the 'Somali-Landers', every day the world is seeing what a fake entity that enclave is.