Tragic Violence Erupts in Somaliland: Six Herders Killed
Hargeisa, Somaliland (AXADLE) — A tragic incident unfolded this week in the Sanaag region, where violence claimed the lives of at least six herders near Goof, a town roughly 80 kilometers from Erigabo city.
The bloodshed began on Tuesday when armed assailants struck a small village close to Goof, sparking a cascade of unrest that has dramatically intensified the existing tensions in the area.
Initially, five herders lost their lives in the brutal assault. This violence prompted a retaliatory attack in Erigabo city the following day, further exacerbating the already precarious situation. In a bid to restore order, the Sanaag regional government enacted a curfew starting at 4 PM on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, as strife continued to loom over the regional capital.
The Somaliland government voiced serious concern in an official communiqué released today, holding militia factions responsible for the turmoil, which they believe aims to destabilize the region just before Somaliland’s elections scheduled for November.
“The Government of the Republic of Somaliland unequivocally denounces these assaults perpetrated by anti-Somaliland militia groups,” the statement proclaimed. “We urge the global community to acknowledge these attacks, which constitute a severe risk to peace and security in the region.”
The announcement hinted at a more significant orchestration behind these conflicts, implicating Ahmed Karaash, a former vice president of Puntland.
Authorities in Somaliland cautioned that such actions threaten not only the peace within Somaliland but also jeopardize stability throughout the larger Horn of Africa.
The Sanaag region’s dynamics are complex, divided between territories held by Somaliland and Puntland. Recent developments have only muddied these waters further, particularly as the Warsangali/Daarood clans, predominantly those living abroad, declared the establishment of a new federal member state named Maakhir during a conference in Mogadishu.
Somaliland officials have accused both the Somali Federal Government and Puntland of instigating the unrest in the region; however, neither Puntland nor the Somali administration has issued any comments addressing these allegations.
