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SABC News, South Africa - 10 Jan 2004 – At least two people were killed in fighting between rival northern Somali regions, officials in one of the enclaves, Somaliland, said today. Fuad Aden Adde, the Somaliland rural development minister, said two of his fighters were killed by forces of the rival Puntland zone in Tifafle village, 10km north of the town of Las Anod, a town claimed by both regions. Adde said four Somaliland people including Hussein Aden Adde, his brother, were taken prisoner.
Residents in the area told reporters that two Puntland fighters were also killed. There was no immediate confirmation of the report. The neighbours have fought sporadic clashes for years over the ownership of several eastern regions of Somaliland that Puntland's leaders claim as their own on the basis of ethnicity. UN development and relief organisations have expressed concern at growing tension between the two regions and say any conflict could destabilise talks taking place in Kenya between Somali warlords aimed at bringing peace to Somalia as a whole.
A former British protectorate, Somaliland split unilaterally from Somalia in 1991 after a long independence struggle, taking advantage of the chaos that followed the fall of Mohamed Siad Barre, the Somali dictator, that same year. The independence of the normally peaceful enclave has never been recognised by the international community, something that rankles with many ordinary people and with the government. Puntland, currently ruled by Abdullahi Yusuf, the Ethiopian-backed military strongman, broke away from Somalia in 1998 to escape the militia anarchy of southern and central Somalia. There was no immediate comment on the clashes from Puntland leaders, who are at the talks in Kenya.
Somaliland leaders are not involved in the peace gathering, saying they have no intention of reuniting Somaliland with the rest of Somalia. Abdullahi Mohamed Du'ale, the Somaliland information minister, has urged the United Nations, African Union, European Union and Arab League to use their influence to stabilise the situation.
"Forces loyal to Abdullahi Yusuf have committed naked aggression. Somaliland will be patient no longer," he said. – Reuters
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