Saturday August 31, 2024
Erigabo (HOL) — The Sanaag Regional Security Committee has imposed a stricter curfew in Ceerigaabo, aiming to curb a mass exodus sparked by clan-related revenge killings.
The violent confrontation, which broke out near the village of Goof, 40 kilometres from Erigabo, is the latest episode in a series of clan and territorial conflicts that have plagued the region for months. The situation has been further exacerbated by the recent murder of Salman Adan Abdi, a prominent local figure whose outspoken support for the Khatumo administration—a group opposing the Somaliland government—has fueled political tensions in the area.
In a response to the violence , the committee, which is administered by Somaliland, ordered an immediate halt to the departures, warning that the ongoing exodus was deepening the city's instability. "We've faced displacement, killings, and wars before—none of it brought us any good. If we flee now, we'll only repeat history," said Ceerigaabo Mayor Ismaaciil Xaaji Nuur.
The committee has tightened the curfew to prevent further unrest, restricting vehicle movement from 4:00 PM and barring all public activity after 6:00 PM. The Somaliland government has responded by deploying additional police and military forces to secure the city.
Last night, tensions flared when a civilian opened fire from a house, wounding a security officer. In the ensuing exchange, another civilian was injured by return fire from the forces.
Dozens of families were forced to flee their homes in the wake of the violence. The Somali Ministry of Internal Affairs and Reconciliation has issued a strong appeal for an immediate end to the conflict, urging local elders, religious scholars, and regional administrators to take decisive action to halt the bloodshed.
Earlier this week, the Somaliland government imposed a strict curfew on vehicle movement within Erigabo, effective from 4 PM to 7 AM, with exceptions only for ambulances and water trucks. The city is now under heavy security, with most businesses shuttered as residents brace for further unrest.
Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi has accused political opponents of using the ongoing conflict to disrupt the upcoming elections, suggesting that the violence in Erigabo is a deliberate attempt to undermine the region's stability. "Today's conflict in Erigabo is being used to disrupt our elections," President Bihi stated, pointing to a broader strategy aimed at destabilizing Somaliland.
The SSC-Khaatumo administration, however, has accused Somaliland forces of targeting civilians in both Goof and Erigabo, alleging that these actions have further inflamed tensions in the region. The longstanding territorial disputes between Somaliland and SSC-Khaatumo forces have been a major source of conflict.
Traditional elders, led by Sultan Ahmed Osman Addo Gude, have also called for an unconditional ceasefire, urging both sides to halt any further military mobilization.
Despite these calls for peace, tensions remain high as both sides reportedly continue to amass weapons and forces, raising concerns that the conflict could escalate further.