Somaliland: Police nab suspects, tension rises as Puntland amass troops in Sool

[Deeq A.]

By: Farah Yusuf

HARGEISA— Voting in the presidential election will begin in a matter of days in Somaliland.

Somaliland security heightened amid fears of terrorist attacks carried out  before and after the elections. Security remains tight across the country on the directives of the interior ministry and the police commissioner. Police nabbed on last Monday 7 suspects in Hargeisa who are thought to be masterminding attacks against Somaliland. Two other suspects were arrested in the down town armed with weapons as reports indicate.

The nine suspects who are in detention as police are interrogating at the moment. The landlord whom the suspects rented a house is under police custody.They are said to be in the country for two weeks planning to conduct terrorist attacks against Somaliland. Al Shabab conducted terrorist attacks in Somaliland in 2008 targeting the presidential palace, UNDP compound and Ethiopian Consulate in Hargeisa. In another development ahead of SL presidential polls that Puntland, a provincial administration in Somalia which borders with Somaliland is said to be amassing troops in amid a border spat with Somaliland’s armed forces. Puntland deployed armed vehicles and troops in Tukaraq and Taleeh which is under SL’s control.

The objective behind Puntland amassing troops in the Sool is perceived as an act of aggression with Somaliland. Somaliland defense forces in the front lines are on high alert and have moved to the areas that Puntland have deployed its forces. It is likely that the two forces will clash in a deadly skirmishes. This comes after Puntland parliament voted that its forces must stop SL to conduct elections in Sool, Sanaag and Ayn regions. It is said that Somaliland exceeds Puntland in terms of defense forces. Defense reports confirm that Puntland cannot withstand SL’s armed forces due to lack of equipment and as well as robust forces.