Garowe (PP News Desk) — Nearly one month after Muse Bihi Abdi, the President of the secessionist Somaliland administration, called for the formation of clan militias to fight alongside Somaliland militias, UNSOM has urged Puntland to play a role in bringing the conflict in Northern Somalia to an end. UNSOM Chief Catriona Laing, who was yesterday visiting Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland State of Somalia, commended Puntland government and people for supporting people who were displaced during the Laascaanood conflict.
“I encourage Puntland State to play a role in persuading the two sides to resolve the conflict by peaceful means, and restore mutual trust to exchange prisoners of war”, reads a UNSOM press release.
There is deep distrust obstructing prisoner exchange. President Bihi refused to comply with UN Security Council calls to withdraw his troops before SSC forces had overrun Somaliland militias at Goja’adde base in August. The claim by Somaliland administration that it is a sovereign country for which it used to shell Laascaanood in violation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on the political and territorial unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia complicates the issue.
SSC territories are a part of Puntland State of Somalia under the federal electoral law, but unlike Somaliland, Puntland State of Somalia maintained militarily neutral position and fully supported in principle the 6 February 2023 Laascaanood Declaration.
© Puntland Post, 2023
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