Below is the latest updated report on the situation in Las Anod, the capital city of the Sool region of Somaliland issued by the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Security
On January 5th, 2023, in an attempt to de-escalate tensions and avoid unwarranted violence in Las Anod, the government of Somaliland ordered the withdrawal of all government troops from the city and back to their barracks on the outskirts of town where they remained stationed.
There was an unprovoked attack by terrorist elements on government barracks and troops in the early hours of February 6, 2023, and are still continuing as of this update. To this end, Somaliland troops remain stationed in their military barracks on the outskirts of Las Anod, while extremists continue their assault from within the city.
The Somaliland government has ensured and continues to ensure that there’s no disruption of all basic services such as water, electricity, internet, health equipment including medicine, and, most importantly, security is available to the people of Las Anod.
https://twitter.com/RAbdiAnalyst/status/1623746312649728006
The ousted Al-Shabaab commanders from Somalia are pouring into Las-Anod, which worries our intelligence sources in Somaliland's Sool region. The international intelligence agencies that are in the region must support the government forces to combat the terrorists.
— Charles William (@CharleswilliamP) February 8, 2023
Al Shabaab commander Abdi Madobe declares victory over Somaliland forces in a propaganda video shot in #Laascaanood. pic.twitter.com/qaMH2FczsG
— Nabad iyo Caano (@VancitySam) February 8, 2023
The Somaliland government categorically denies the false reports also circulating online concocted and employed by the terrorist militia and their supporters overseas to try to portray the Somaliland government as the aggressor in this matter. Common sense dictates that no government would order the withdrawal of troops out of their cities only to attack a month later.
Furthermore, images of the destruction of critical infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, places of worship, businesses, etc. posted online are of images from other nations. Simple google searches will attest to the source and authenticity of those images, it’s also worth mentioning here most of those infrastructures have been projects established by the Somaliland government and their protection is sacrosanct.
Finally, the Somaliland government reaffirms here their commitment and will always continue to work towards peace and stability in Las Anod and elsewhere in Somaliland and clearly laid out in the most recent cabinet meeting chaired by the president. Peace is what got Somaliland here and peace is what this Somaliland government wishes for all its citizens.
