Sunday June 4, 2023
Las Anod (HOL) - Senior Somaliland Army Commander Saleeban Barre Gesod announced his defection to the SSC forces on Sunday, joining the ongoing fighting against Somaliland in Las Anod.
Speaking passionately at a welcoming event held in Las Anod town, Commander Gesod expressed his decision to leave his position in the military, citing the overwhelming support he received from the people of the Sool, Sanaag, and Ayn regions, collectively known as SCC-Khatumo.
"I have chosen to stand with you, the people of SSC. Your unwavering love and dedication have moved me deeply, and I have closely followed the situation. I was there with you when the war started," said Saleeban Barre Gesod.
The defection of several Somaliland government and army officers to join the SCC forces marks a growing trend since the clashes in Las Anod. Just last month, a military commander from Somaliland and an undisclosed number of military forces joined the SCC-Khatumo troops in the Sool region.
Since February 6th, the disputed city of Las Anod has been engulfed in violent clashes between the forces of the self-proclaimed state of Somaliland and local militias associated with the Dhulbahante clan in northern Somalia. Disturbingly, Las Anod's hospitals have reported a death toll of 299, with 1,913 individuals injured and over 200,000 displaced since the commencement of the conflict.