Thursday January 5, 2023
Las Anod (HOL) - The situation in Las Anod town was uneasy on Thursday morning after anti-government protesters and local militias forced Somaliland security forces to abandon most of their recent positions on Wednesday afternoon to their army bases on the outskirts of town.
One resident described the situation as "unpredictable," adding that the Somaliland military is still active in the city.
"Many people are fleeing this morning due to the possibility of further clashes."
Residents confirmed that there were skirmishes on Wednesday night.
It is not immediately clear how many people were killed or injured in the latest clash.
According to reports, the recent flare-up began on Wednesday after a Somaliland soldier shot and killed a young man. As a result, militias from the slain man's clan attacked the Somaliland army base.
The militia commanders who took over the town threatened to burn down the telecommunications firms if they sought to shut off the internet and telephones.
When the demonstrations in Las Anod began last week, the Somaliland authority cut off internet and phone service, making communication difficult.
On Tuesday, the President of Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi, said that his government is committed to
finding a solution to the week-long anti-government protests.
At least
twenty people were killed during five days of protests last week after demonstrators took to the streets to demand that the Somaliland government finally give up its claims to Las Anod.
The town has served as the focal point of a protracted border dispute between the self-proclaimed republic of Somaliland and the semi-autonomous Somali territory of Puntland since 2007.
Hospital officials report that more than 22 demonstrators have been killed, and dozens more have been injured since the turmoil started