Horumar

31.3.2023: Laascaanood, Sool

The U.S. State Department has released its strongest statement against the current conflict in Laascaanood and comes only days after out-going U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, Larry André called on Somaliland leader, Muse Bihi “to create a distance” between Somaliland forces and SSC-Khaatumo forces.

In a press statement released by the Principal Deputy Spokesman for the U.S. State Department, Vedant Patel, the U.S. Government expressed it is “increasingly concerned” about events unfolding in Laascaanood.

Withdraw Forces

The U.S. Government called on separatist forces from Somaliland to withdraw and pull back from Laascaanood as a “demonstration of its commitment” to peace.

It also called on SSC-Khaatumo Forces to halt all new offensives against Somaliland forces in Goojecade.

The statement comes at a time where the Somaliland regional government led by Muse Bihi announced preparations for a new offensive against SSC-Khaatumo Forces stationed in Sool on Sunday.

The U.S. government was clearly expressed its opposition to calls by the Bihi regime for an all-out war in Sool, rather agreeing in principle with the earlier calls from the SSC-Khaatumo Council that Somaliland Forces should withdraw from Sool before any talks can begin.

The U.S. Government also praised Bihi’s commitment to meet with the same traditional elder delegation from Mogadishu that visit Laascaanood, in Hargeisa.

The commitment by Bihi is major shift from separatist Somaliland policy which has naturally always reject any statements or calls from Mogadishu, let alone the presence of traditional clan elders from the South which demonstrates a sense of unity in Somalia rather than the separatist agenda being pushed by the Bihi regime.

Delayed Elections

The U.S. Government also highlighted the delayed elections in Somaliland which was scheduled for November of last year.

Expected elections were delayed when the opposition accused the government in Hargeisa of altering the election framework as the election commission stated it would not be able to hold elections by November 2022.

The election dispute resulted in mass protests across the Somaliland region in November which saw security forces firing live rounds at civilians seeing dozens killed and injured as a result.

Somaliland’s regional law states that presidential and parliamentary elections must held within 5 years which was legally scheduled for November 13th of last year.

For more on Somalia, follow Suldan Mohamed and HORUMAR.