Friday, April 18, 2025 (HMC) – Heavy fighting erupted on Thursday in the Daan-weyne area of Sanaag region after renewed tensions between Somaliland forces and those of SSC-Khaatumo over territorial disputes escalated once again.
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, SSC-Khaatumo accused Somaliland of launching what they described as “a brutal attack on nomadic civilians.”
“This cruel and unjustified act has caused numerous civilian casualties and injuries. It has endangered the lives of our people and undermined the peace-building efforts led by the Federal Government of Somalia,” the SSC-Khaatumo statement read.
Although the exact number of casualties remains unclear, SSC-Khaatumo officials stated that the violence was a serious violation of their territorial integrity. They called on the international community to urgently investigate the incident.
Somaliland authorities have yet to officially comment on the fighting. However, images shared on social media appear to show prisoners and military vehicles allegedly captured by Somaliland forces during the clashes.
Tensions have been steadily rising since the historic visit last week by Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre to the city of Laascaanood, the interim capital of SSC-Khaatumo.
The visit symbolized the Federal Government’s formal recognition of SSC-Khaatumo as a federal member state—an action strongly opposed by Somaliland, which still claims administrative control over the regions of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn.
Sporadic clashes between Somaliland forces and SSC-Khaatumo have been ongoing since early 2023, when local residents and traditional elders successfully expelled Somaliland forces from Laascaanood, sparking a widespread uprising.
