Hiiraan Online

Hargeisa (HOL) - Religious leaders in the separatist region of Somaliland have called for an end to the violence in Las Anod and expressed their support for the implementation of a cease-fire. 

During a press conference held in Hargeisa, the leaders stated that disputes should be resolved peacefully. They reminded both parties that shedding Muslim blood is prohibited, especially during the holy month of Rajab.

In the past week, heavy fighting between Somaliland's armed forces and militias loyal to the central government of Somalia has resulted in nearly 75 deaths and over 150 injuries. 

The federal government of Somalia has called for peace, while authorities in Hargeisa claim that Somalia's federal government is partly responsible for the attacks.

Somalia's federal government has called on Somaliland to respect the desires of the Sool, Sanaag, and Ayn communities and to end the fighting in Las Anod immediately. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has also offered to participate in and facilitate a peace conference to resolve the tensions.

On Thursday, the federal government of Somalia flew eighteen people from Las Anod to Mogadishu to receive medical treatment. 

The main opposition party in Djibouti has accused President Ismail Omar Guelle of promising military support to Somaliland, but the government of Djibouti has distanced itself from the conflict and stated its commitment to neutrality. The Foreign Affairs Minister of Djibouti, Mohamud Yusuf Ali, wrote on Twitter that Somaliland has not asked for their mediation.

 

The international community said it was "gravely concerned" about the deaths of civilians during the clashes and echoed similar calls for peace and restraint. The Somaliland government immediately dismissed the international community's joint statement, saying it was spurred by "false accusations."

The number of people displaced by the week-long conflict has continued to increase, and the Dahabshiil Group Company has donated $200,000 to aid the displaced people in Las Anod. The conflict broke out last week in Las Anod, which is located on a key trade route and is claimed by both Somaliland and Puntland, a Federal Member State in northeastern Somalia. The violence erupted a few hours after traditional elders in the Sool region issued a statement declaring autonomy and calling for the withdrawal of Somaliland's soldiers from the area. Control of Las Anod has changed hands several times in recent decades.