 | This is disappointing. I had hoped these two regions would sit out the idiocy and madness in the Horn, thus becoming a small hope for the region. But no, they're reverting to type ... |
(SomaliNet) According Puntland administration, Somaliland is preparing for all out war and has deployed thousands of its army along the disputed border between the two regions. In return, Puntland is training hundreds of clan militia members in a hurry in to defend itself from Somaliland should a war break out.
Self-declared republic of Somaliland and semi-autonomous Puntland had unresolved border dispute as long as the two administrations were established in early 1990s although they never had a prolonged war except few skirmishes. Now, the balance of power had shifted to SomalilandÂ’s favor after the bulk PuntlandÂ’s army was sent to southern Somalia to fight for the interim national government headed by President Abdulahi Yusuf who ruled Puntland before his current post.
Prime Minister Ali Gedi addressed this dispute and blamed Eritrea, Somaliland and what he called Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorists for fuelling the tension. Sources close to the interim government say Ethiopia had warned both Somaliland and Puntland against attacking the other. The two had fought earlier this month and then defense minister of Somaliland lost his post for mishandling the war.
| The hidden hand of the Eritreans in this? |
Somaliland claims Puntland annexed a large junk of land from its territories - claim most Somalilanders believe is worth to fight for.
| Because they're tribal. Land, honor and cattle are the things you fight for in a tribal society, and not necessarily in that order. |
On the other side of the conflict, Puntland says the inhabitants of the disputed land do not recognize WWII era border that was erected by Europeans who came to Somalia and divided the country into five enclaves: British Somaliland; Italian Somalia; French Somalia (Djibouti); and two territories given to Kenya and Ethiopia. The land falls into British Somaliland but its people have clan affiliations with Puntland.
| Background articles recently in the news here and here. |
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