Hiiraan Online
Friday, January 15, 2016
Ali Mohamed Waranade, Somaliland’s interior minister
HARGEISA (HOL) – Troops from the breakaway northern Somalia region of Somaliland have seized the temporary administrative headquarters of Khaatumo, pro-Somali administration that declared it seceded from Somaliland and formed an independent autonomous state, officials said.
Ali Mohamed Waranade, Somaliland’s interior minister told reporters that their troops have seized Balli’ad village which served as the temporary headquarters of Khaatumo since last year after Somaliland troops have seized its former administrative headquarters in a similar surprise attack in 2015.
“Somaliland’s national forces have entered the town and stopped anti-Somaliland meeting by some elements.” He told reporters Thursday.
Mr. Waranade has urged Mr. Galaydh’s administration to address any grievances they may have through peaceful means, rather than ‘violence’.
Witnesses in the village which lies 80km west of Lasanod town told HOL that Somaliland forces seized the town soon after Khaatumo’s president Ali Khalif Galaydh who was the apparent target of the attack has left the state’s assembly.
No comment could be reached from Khaatumo leaders on the development.
Somaliland which has declared a unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 aims to consolidate territory as it seeks the world’s attention to recognize it as an independent state. However, no country has so far recognized it as an independent state.