In a press conference held Friday, Garaad Jama criticized the arrival of a federal delegation led by Interior Minister Cali Jibriil Hosh, which reached Laascaanood on Thursday.

The delegation claimed it was preparing for a conference aimed at finalizing the SSC-Khaatumo administration, currently operating in parts of the Sool region.

However, Garaad Jama stated that there had been no prior agreement or consultation on the event and warned that any attempt to impose decisions without consensus could threaten the hard-won progress of the SSC-Khaatumo people.

“I oppose any process that lacks broad agreement, is incomplete, and puts at risk what our people have sacrificed so much for,” Garaad Jama said. “I am not aware of any consultation regarding the planned conference in Laascaanood.”

Garaad Jama also condemned what he described as previous marginalization of the SSC-Khaatumo community and warned against repeating past mistakes.

His remarks come amid growing tensions in the Sanaag region, where a recent visit by a group of politicians and armed forces—allegedly supported by the Federal Government—has raised alarm.

He expressed strong opposition to federal interference in the affairs of the Warsangali clan in Sanaag and warned that the same form of external rule rejected by the people of Sool 15 years ago should not be imposed on others today.

“What I resisted for 15 years—a plan imposed from elsewhere to govern our people—we cannot accept again,” he said.

Garaad Jama apologized to the clans in Sanaag and called for internal dialogue within the SSC-Khaatumo community before seeking support or integration with other regions.

The plan to incorporate parts of Sanaag into SSC-Khaatumo has also been rejected by Puntland authorities and traditional elders from the region. Sanaag is currently contested between Puntland and Somaliland.

The planned conference, which has stirred political tension across Sool, Sanaag, and Puntland, is reportedly scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 15.

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Cadaawe had made a fateful decision to leave the Somali Federal Darwish and join the ranks of the Somaliland fighters, facing the Dhulbahante clan militia, ultimately meeting his demise.

In the wake of Cadaawe’s death, a relative, Jama Mohamed Ibrahim, known as Haarane, mourned the loss of his dear friend and brother. “Death is inevitable, and only God remains. May God have mercy on Cadaawe Sheikh Idiris,” he solemnly expressed.

The Laascaanood conflict had claimed the lives of numerous officers before Cadaawe, but his tragic fate revealed a disheartening reality of trained officers choosing to align with their clans to perpetrate violence against fellow civilians and trigger mass displacement. In a cruel twist, on the opposing side of the battle stood another Somali Federal Darwish police colonel, Abdirisaq Bihin, now serving as the commander of the communications unit for the Dhulbahante clan fighters in Laascaanood.

Both men were part of the Federal Darwish, a robust civilian unit of the Federal Somali Police Force who have been principally trained in Djibouti in April 2022 at the request of the Government of Somalia with funding by the EU Delegation to Somalia, the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia), the European Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia), and by the United Nations Police (UNPOL).

Speaking defiantly at the frontline in the Maraaga mountains, east of Laascaanood, Colonel Bihin boasted about confronting his former comrade, stating, “Just 10 days ago, he called me and said, ‘Either I will catch you or you will die, Mr. Bihin.’ Just go back to Mogadishu.”

“Eventually, we killed him and the right cause has won,” Bihin added.

The two friends-turned-enemies epitomized the profound hostility fueling the conflict, each defending what they believed to be their legitimate identity and ancestral lands.

The trend of Somali government officers and soldiers participating in the war, which erupted in early February and caused more than 150 dead and the displacement of close to 200,000, has been on the rise. Recently, a unit from the Turkish-trained military of Gorgor joined the Dhulbahante fighters, signifying a troubling escalation.

As the battle rages on in Laascaanood, more men from the police and military, trained by Turkey, the EU, and the United States, are expected to join the fray. Some have already arrived, and casualties are being reported on both sides.

Meanwhile, Somaliland is reinforcing and fortifying its fighters in Goojacade, where a decisive and protracted war has been unfolding for weeks.

Despite fervent calls for an end to the war, they seemed to fall on unresponsive ears. Practically, the pleas appeared to lack substantial impact, as the Laascaanood conflict continues to persist.

In reality, this Laascaanood war represents not only the failure of genuine reconciliation efforts among Somalis but also an alarming manifestation of power struggles, clan-based abuses, and deep-seated clan animosities that have overflowed their bounds. The central issue boils down to a power dynamic—where one side vying to assert control over the other, a sentiment palpable among the people in the streets of Laascaanood.

Moreover, the Laascaanood war has been significantly influenced by international actors. The presence of well-equipped fighters trained and armed by the EU, UN, Turkey, and even the UAE, underscores their involvement in the ongoing hostilities. Consequently, until these external entities cease the supply of both personnel and weaponry to the frontlines, the Laascaanood conflict is unlikely to see a resolution.

The situation remains complex, with fragile alliances and deep loyalties complicating the pursuit of peace in Laascaanood and the wider Somalia.

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The Dhulbahante clan forces engaged in combat and proudly announced their triumph in the battle. Disturbing images circulating on social media depict charred military vehicles and lifeless bodies, identified as soldiers belonging to the Somaliland military.

The clash, which commenced on early on Tuesday morning, reportedly unfolded at Maraga area on the eastern side of the troubled Laascaanood city.

Officials of the Dhulbahante clan fighters claimed that their positions came under attack prompting their defensive response.

Medical facilities in Laascaanood reported receiving injured men as the heavy battle continued to the sunset.

In contrast, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Somaliland issued a press release claiming that the “Somaliland forces valiantly defended against Puntland State forces and various terrorist groups who invaded their positions” during the Tuesday battle.

Puntland, however, did not respond to the Somaliland allegations.

Both sides continue to receive reinforcements and the fighting is expected to prolong in the coming days, according to journalists in the region.

The disputed city of Laascaanood has been a battleground since February 6, witnessing relentless clashes between the self-declared state of Somaliland’s forces and the local militia representing the Dhulbahante clan in northern Somalia.

The prolonged conflict has resulted in a staggering loss of life, with over 150 fatalities reported, while hundreds have sustained injuries. The escalating violence has forced numerous families to flee the war-torn region within the Sool territory, exacerbating an already dire situation.

Startling statistics provided by the UNHCR-led Protection and Return Monitoring Network reveal that this year alone, approximately 200,000 individuals have been displaced from the area due to ongoing conflict and the prevailing sense of insecurity.

The humanitarian crisis deepens as the conflict in Laascaanood rages on, leaving behind a trail of destruction and human suffering in its wake.

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Residents reported hearing the exchange of fire, including the use of heavy weaponry, emanating from the battlefields surrounding the area.

While details about casualties remain unknown, it has been reported that Somaliland forces have been launching artillery attacks on neighborhoods within Laascaanood.

Both sides have been actively preparing for conflict, with Somaliland seeking to retake Laascaanood, while the Dhulbahante clan fighters aim to capture Gooja-Adde, the primary base of the Somaliland army situated on the outskirts of the city.

This recent clash follows closely on the heels of a statement by the United Nations Security Council, issued two weeks ago, urging Somaliland to immediately withdraw its forces from Laascaanood.

The Security Council called upon all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could provoke violence or contribute to an escalation of tensions.

The Laascaanood conflict, which began on February 6, has resulted in over 100 civilian casualties and the displacement of nearly 200,000 individuals, according to humanitarian organisations.

Somaliland claims Laascaanood as part of its territory, having seceded from the rest of Somalia, while the Dhulbahante clan advocates for unity with Somalia.

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Witnesses report an exchange of artillery on Wednesday, marking an escalation in the ongoing conflict.

The clash ensued after Somaliland forces initiated maneuvers in the frontlines, triggering the exchange of heavy artillery fire.

The Dhulbahante (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn SSC) fighters claimed to have successfully targeted a Somaliland army base in the Gojacadde camp, a key stronghold of the Somaliland forces on the outskirts of Laascaanood.

Somaliland military officials say they struck bases hosting the Dhulbahante fighters in the vicinity of Laascaanood.

As of now, casualty figures remain unknown, and independent sources are unavailable to provide verified information.

The conflict in Laascaanood is part of an ongoing armed struggle between the Somaliland army and SSC forces of the Dhulbahante clan, who seek to secede from Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1992. Allegedly, the Dhulbahante fighters have been receiving financial support, equipment, and reinforcements from allied clans based in mainland Somalia.

The current bout of fighting erupted on February 6 after Somaliland security forces forcefully cracked down on civil protests, exacerbating the existing tensions.

According to aid groups and medical personnel on the ground, the protracted conflict has resulted in the loss of over 300 lives and the displacement of nearly 200,000 people. The humanitarian situation continues to worsen as the violence persists, placing additional strain on already vulnerable communities.

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Three months into the conflict, close to 200,000 people have been displaced, according to the latest data from the Protection and Return Monitoring Network led by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and called on all parties involved to ensure safe and unimpeded access to those affected by the armed clashes. “People in Laascaanood urgently need humanitarian assistance, and we are acting as quickly as possible to bring it to them,” stated Juerg Eglin, head of the ICRC delegation in Somalia.

ICRC says it has been actively providing support to the victims of the conflict. To date, 88 wounded individuals from Laascaanood have received crucial surgical treatment at Mogadishu’s Madina Hospital, a medical facility supported by the ICRC.

Somaliland, a region in northern Somalia, broke away from the rest of Somalia following a bloody civil war in 1991 but remains unrecognized internationally.

The Dhulbahante clan, residing in the Sool region under Somaliland’s administration, has seen a recent desire to break away and align with the federal government of Somalia, citing their disagreement with Somaliland’s unilateral declaration of independence in 1991.

Despite local and international calls for a cessation of the fighting, the prospects of a resolution seem bleak. Both sides involved in the conflict have maintained their aggressive rhetoric and displayed little willingness to engage in peaceful dialogue.

In a recent speech on May 18, President Muse Bihi Abdi of Somaliland affirmed the determination of his forces, stating, “The fighting will not stop until Somaliland liberates back all its borders from external attackers.” This announcement suggests that the conflict will persist until Somaliland regains control over what they perceive as their rightful territory.

Similarly, Dhulbahante elders have vowed to sustain their fight in defense of their ancestral land against Somaliland invasion. They remain steadfast in their determination to protect their territory from what they perceive as external aggression.

As the conflict rages on, the humanitarian situation worsens, with thousands of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. The international community continues to call for an immediate ceasefire and the initiation of dialogue to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Laascaanood. However, until both sides are willing to lay down their arms and engage in meaningful negotiations, the cycle of violence and displacement is likely to persist, leaving the civilian population trapped in a dire situation.

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