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| Africa Horn | ||
| Puntland troops clash with militia in Taleh, 8 killed | ||
| 2013-12-01 | ||
| GAROWE -- Puntland government in northern Somalia says that at least eight persons were killed during an armed clash on Thursday in Taleh district of Sool region, Garowe Online reports. "On November 28, Puntland Vice President H.E. Abdisamad Ali Shire's security escort in Taleh District of Sool Region repelled an attack by an armed militia loyal to Mr. Mohamed Yusuf Jama (Indhosheel), self-proclaimed politician and member of Somali Diaspora in Europe," said a Puntland government statement.
Continuing, the statement said that Vice President Shire has been in Taleh town in recent months to promote peace and reconciliation: "Since August 2013, the Puntland Vice President has been in Sool Region, particularly his native area of Taleh District, to promote peace and reconciliation and implement development programs". Puntland urged peace in the region and encouraged "all legitimate parties" to join the political process in Puntland and to make positive contribution to peace, justice and development. Puntland government says that it "tolerated this militia's provocative actions" in the past, and accused Mr. Indhosheel as a "self-proclaimed ‘Khatumo' organized and funded by failed politicians and external actors aiming to destabilize Puntland ahead of January 2014 elections". The statement said that Mr. Indhosheel aimed to "distrupt the flow of traffic and create insecurity", noting that the Khatumo militia attacked a main road that is "the artery for the flow of human and trade traffic between regions in Puntland and Somaliland". Speaking on BBC Somali Service, Vice President Shire said: "What happened is very unfortunate and people died. I send my condolences to families of the dead on both sides and wish for good health for wounded persons. Puntland wants peace in Taleh district and the entire region". Mr. Mohamed Mohamud Gahnug of Khatumo told the BBC Somali Service that Puntland troops attacked Taleh community, whom he claimed are loyal to Khatumo faction. "PIS and Saracen troops from Puntland with 50 vehicles and 800 soldiers attacked the people of Taleh community and committed a massacre...13 persons were killed," said Mr. Gahnug.
He condemned the Puntland government, vowing that "the war will occur in Garowe" if Puntland troops do not leave Taleh town. In Mogadishu, one of Khatumo's founders and current MP of Somali Federal Parliament Dr. Ali Khalif Galayr told a press conference on Saturday that Puntland's president is fomenting trouble in Taleh district. "[President] Farole is responsible for the armed confrontation and death in Taleh district. Khatumo will hold its convention in Taleh," vowed MP Galayr, a former Somali Prime Minister. Puntland's vice president Gen. Shire has previously dismissed claims that Khatumo convention will be held in Taleh town, vowing that Puntland government will remain in control of the area. Khatumo is a self-declared administration in Sool and Sanaag regions, where Puntland and Somaliland have vied for control since 2002 with irregular armed confrontations. In January 2012, the convention that formed Khatumo was held in Taleh town, but many Khatumo leaders have joined Puntland, including Ahmed Elmi Osman (Ahmed Karash). In October 2007, Somaliland militarily seized control of Las Anod from Puntland, instigating a period of instability in the region until the formation of Khatumo militia in January 2012. Taleh is a historic town that lies 90km northwest of Garowe, capital of Puntland. | ||
| Posted by:Steve White |