According to SSC-Khaatumo police, the brutal assault took place on 14 June in Laascaanood, the regional capital.

Photos of the suspects were released by the police following their arrest on Tuesday 17 June.

“Twenty-four men who gang raped two sisters are now in our custody, and we will be taking them to court,” said SSC-Khaatumo Police Spokesperson, Captain Liibaan Barre.

The horrific case triggered mass protests on Wednesday, with hundreds of residents taking to the streets.

Demonstrations began after reports emerged that one of the suspects had been temporarily released to sit for the national high school exams.

Police later confirmed that the suspect was re-arrested.

The unrest led to property destruction, looting, and the death of at least one person.

The two victims, both teenagers, had recently been displaced from Erigabo, Sanaag region, and were seeking refuge in Laascaanood, where ongoing conflict has already taken a toll on the civilian population.

A police source told Kaab TV that one of the girls went into shock and remains hospitalized.

Support services for survivors of sexual violence in the region are nearly non-existent. Local health workers lack the specialized training to deal with rape cases, and deep-rooted social taboos often prevent women and girls from coming forward.

SSC-Khaatumo leader Abdiqadir Aw-Jama Firdhiye, who returned to Laascaanood from Mogadishu on Thursday, condemned the attack and pledged swift justice.

He confirmed that a team of police investigators had been brought in from the capital to assist with the case.

“I want to state very clearly: we will ensure justice for the girls,” Firdhiye said.

He criticized police for releasing a suspect to sit for exams, calling it “a serious mistake that should never be repeated.”

He also extended condolences to residents who lost property during the protests.

The Laascaanood case is yet another stark example of the violence women face in Somalia, where rape cases are frequently resolved through clan negotiations — often forcing victims to marry their attackers.

In a separate statement, police acknowledged attempts by some individuals to interfere with the investigation.

“We warn against any attempt to obstruct the pursuit of justice for the girls, who have suffered physical abuse, psychological harm, and violations,” the police said on Thursday. “Those responsible are in custody and will be brought to justice as intended.”

Local officials told Kaab TV that the case is now being handled by an investigative committee appointed by the SSC-Khaatumo Minister of Justice.

The post Outrage in Laascaanood After 24 Arrested for Gang Rape of Two Sisters appeared first on Kaab TV.

Erigabo, the regional capital of Sanaag, has an economy predominantly based on pastoralism, trade, and small-scale agriculture.

Livestock farming dominates, with camels, goats, and sheep often exported to Gulf countries.

The city links coastal towns like Laasqoray to inland areas, while small-scale farming produces sorghum and maize.

Remittances and informal markets sustain livelihoods, though large-scale resource extraction is limited.

However, since late November, clashes between the Warsangeli and Habar Jeclo clans have claimed over 20 lives and injured dozens more.

According to the United Nations, nearly 43,000 people have been displaced, with many fleeing to nearby areas such as El Afweyn and Laasqoray.

This escalating crisis has also drawn in forces from SSC-Khaatumo and Somaliland, each accused of taking sides, further complicating the situation.

The conflict has triggered an arms race in the Sanaag province, with reports of increased weapons trading and militia mobilization.

Observers fear renewed clashes in the city and surrounding villages affecting larger communities.

Recently, SSC-Khaatumo leader Abduqadir Aw-Ali Firdhiye announced their intention to capture Erigabo under the SSC-Khaatumo flag.

“Our forces are ready, and we will liberate Erigabo and bring it under SSC-Khaatumo state,” he declared in a speech delivered in Lasanod.

Meanwhile, Somaliland’s government has called for a peaceful resolution but insists on defending Erigabo as part of its territory.

Presidential Spokesperson Hussein Adan Deyr stated: “The President emphasized that his government is not at war with its people, but it is a constitutional obligation to defend the country from any enemy. The National Forces have full authority to protect the country and its people.”

The Historical Context

Understanding the complexity of the Erigabo conflict requires acknowledging the city’s social and political divisions.

Erigabo, the capital of Sanaag, is home to both Isaaq and Darood clans. Following Somalia’s deadly civil war in 1993, local clans agreed on peaceful coexistence based on a four-clan framework: two from the Darood and two from the Isaaq.

The arrangement, brokered by elders, has since unraveled, with the Warsangeli accusing Somaliland’s Isaaq clan of violating the 1993 agreement.

“The Sanaag region spans 55,000 square kilometers, 35,000 of which are inhabited by Warsangeli clans. Erigabo itself has four clans,” said Warsangeli spokesperson Ali Guray Diriye during a gathering in El Buh town early this month.

Drawing Parallels to Galkayo’s Two-State Solution

Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdi, a former Somali Minister of Fisheries and now an SSC-Khaatumo adviser, suggests that Erigabo’s situation could be resolved through a model similar to Galkayo’s 1993 peace accord.

Galkayo, a town straddling two of Somalia’s major clan families—the Darood and the Hawiye—was the site of intense conflict in the early 1990s.

The United Somali Congress (USC) of the Hawiye and Somali Salvation and Democratic Front (SSDF) of the Daarood, initially allies against the Siad Barre regime, brokered a ceasefire known as the 1993 Mudug Peace Accord.

This agreement effectively divided northern Somalia from the center and south, paving the way for Puntland’s establishment in 1998.

Remarkably, the accord has mitigated large-scale conflict in the region for over two decades.

“The Erigabo situation could end in a similar scenario to the Galkayo peace accord,” Dr. Abdirahman remarked.

A delegation of clan elders from Jigjiga, the Somali Region in Ethiopia, has engaged in peace talks with Isaaq and Darood elders in Erigabo.

Mohamed Iba Abdi, an Erigabo resident, reported progress.

“The elders’ negotiations seem to be bearing fruit, with a ceasefire reached weeks ago. However, a comprehensive peace resolution is yet to be finalized. We hope the elders will foster peaceful coexistence, but concerns remain about the potential division of the city,” Mohamed said.

Whether Somaliland would accept a divided Erigabo remains unclear.

Hargeisa previously administered the city fully, and the notion of splitting it could face significant resistance.

Adding to the complexity, Erigabo’s Dhulbahante population is affiliated with SSC-Khaatumo, while the Isaaq aligns with Somaliland.

However, Puntland and pro-Mogadishu factions, such as Maakhir, are also vying for influence. Excluding these actors could further delay any lasting resolution.

Whether through a two-state solution or another innovative approach, achieving a durable resolution will require inclusive dialogue, mutual concessions, and steadfast commitment from all parties.

The post How to End the Erigabo Conflict: Can It Be Like Galkayo’s Two-State Solution? appeared first on Kaab TV.

In a statement issued after a clan conference in El Buh town, the Warsangeli clan condemned the clashes that have rocked Erigabo since late November 2024, leaving dozens dead and many displaced.

The meeting, led by Sultan Said Sultan Abdisalan, brought together elders, youth, diaspora members, and intellectuals from the Warsangeli clan.

The Erigabo conflict, which has pitted militias from the Warsangeli and Habar Jeclo clans against each other, has also drawn in forces from SSC-Khaatumo and Somaliland, who are accused of taking sides.

Independent sources estimate that over 20 people have been killed in the fighting, though the exact toll remains unclear.

Warsangeli Clan Issues Declaration

The Warsangeli clan’s statement alleged that a 1993 peace agreement with the Isaaq clan, which facilitated peaceful coexistence in the region, had been violated.

They announced the formation of a 35-member committee tasked with defending the Warsangeli clan’s people and property in Erigabo.

“The conference calls on the international community and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent assistance to those displaced, as they face dire conditions,” said Ali Yare Guray Dirir, the conference spokesperson.

The clan leaders also announced plans for a broader meeting in February 2025 to discuss their future.

Somaliland’s government, which administers Erigabo, has yet to respond officially to the Warsangeli declaration.

However, President Abdirahman Abdillahi Cirro has previously urged dialogue to resolve the clan-based conflict.

In contrast, King Osman Buurmadow, a the Habar Jeclo/Isaq elder, reiterated his clan’s calls for peace while warning, through local media on Friday, that their militias remain ready to defend themselves if attacked.

The conflict has triggered an arms race in Sanaag, with reports of increased weapons trading and militia mobilization.

Observers fear renewed clashes could erupt in Erigabo, a city once known for its tranquility.

According to the United Nations, nearly 43,000 people have been displaced since the fighting began, with many fleeing to nearby areas such as El Afweyn and Laasqoray.

Others have sought refuge in districts including Bosaso, Las Anod, Hudun, and Burao.

As tensions mount, humanitarian organizations warn of a deepening crisis, with displaced families facing severe hardships in makeshift shelters.

Efforts to mediate the conflict remain uncertain as the clan militias brace for potential escalation.

The post Tensions Escalate in Sanaag Amid Erigabo Conflict appeared first on Kaab TV.

The clashes broke out last Saturday when SSC-aligned clan militias launched an assault on Somali security forces, sparking violent confrontations.

Over a dozen people have been killed, and many more have been injured.

UN agencies report that nearly 43,000 people have been displaced from their homes due to the intense fighting between Somaliland forces and SSC-Khatumo-backed rival clan militias inside the urban city of Erigabo since last week.

Somaliland president briefed the Chairmen and Leaders of the Three National Parties in depth on the country’s security issues in general, especially the conflicts in Erigabo District.

“The President said that his Government is not at war with its people, but it is a Constitutional obligation to defend the country from any enemy that may arise, and the National Forces have full authority to defend the country and the people,” said Somaliland Presidential Spokesperson, Hussein Adan Deyr.

Deyr further stated that President Abdi once again called for an unconditional peace process for all those involved in the conflicts in the eastern Sool region and Erigabo District.

“His Excellency Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilaahi, once again called for an unconditional peace process for all those involved in the conflicts in the eastern Sool region and Ceerigaabo District,” he added.

The conflict in Erigabo has now lasted for over a week, resulting in more than ten deaths and leaving many others injured. What began as clashes between local civilians has escalated into a clan-based conflict, with Somaliland forces and the SSC-Khaatumo alliance backing different militia groups in the region.

This latest violence follows a pattern of ongoing instability in the Sool and Sanaag regions, which has been present since last year. Additionally, a separate conflict has broken out in areas along the Somaliland-Ethiopia border, continuing for the past two days.

The situation remains tense, with calls for peace growing louder from various sectors of society.

The post Somaliland President Calls for Dialogue on Erigabo Conflict, Warns Forces Have Full Authority to Defend the Country and Its People appeared first on Kaab TV.