| Las Anod conflict Dagaalkii Laascaanood (Somali) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theSomali Civil War (2009–present) | ||||||||||
     Uniform ofSSC-Khatumo fighter, 2024; SSC forces standing to attention, 2024;Somaliland Army General Nuh Ismail Tani giving a speech during the war, 2023; Damage toLas Anod hospital from artillery fire, 2023; Map of the clashes; | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Belligerents | ||||||||||
 Somaliland[1] |  SSC-Khatumo Somalia[2]Supported by:  Puntland[3] (2023-2025)Harti militiamen | Puntland[4] (since 2025) | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | ||||||||||
| Abdirahman Mohamed AbdullahiMuse Bihi AbdiNuh Ismail TaniNimcaan Yusuf OsmanFaisal Abdi Bootan (POW)[7] |
Hassan Sheikh MohamudHamza Abdi Barre | Said Abdullahi Deni | ||||||||
| Units involved | ||||||||||
 Somaliland National Army SSB[8] | SSC-Khatumo | Puntland Security ForcePuntland Dervish ForcePuntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF)[9] | ||||||||
| Strength | ||||||||||
| 6,000–8,000army[10] 1,000–2,000police[11] 6,000SSB militia(2025)[12] | 7,000–8,000[13] | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | ||||||||||
| 2,000 casualties (May 2023 estimate)[14] | 2,700 casualties (May 2023 estimate)[15] | 4 dead, multiple injured | ||||||||
| ~343 people dead (March 2023)[16] 154,000–203,000 civilians displaced[17] 600 wounded[18] | ||||||||||
TheLas Anod conflict (Somali:Dagaalkii Laascaanood) was an armed conflict between theSomaliland National Army and theKhaatumo SSC (Sool,Sanaag andCayn regions) forces of theDhulbahante clan aroundLas Anod, the capital of theSool region.[1][19][20]
Local tensions escalated in late 2022 following the assassination of civil leaders in Las Anod, culminating in fighting that erupted on 6 February 2023 after Somaliland security forces violently cracked down on civilian protests.[21][22] Shortly after, the supremeGarad of the Dhulbahante clan,Jama Garad Ali, announced the intent of the SSC-Khaatumo administration to reunify with theFederal Government of Somalia (FGS).[23][24] Las Anod fell into a state of siege, with heavy fighting between SSC and Somaliland forces.[25] Under PresidentMuse Bihi, the Somaliland Army initiated a prolonged military campaign, including six months of artillery bombardments aimed at subduing the city.[26]Amnesty International reported indiscriminate shelling by Somaliland forces, which damaged schools, mosques, and hospitals, while also killing and injuring civilians.[27]
The conflict has resulted in the deaths of several hundred civilians[28] and displaced 153,000–203,000 as refugees. It is not known how many have been killed in total.[29] Many residents fled to neighboringSSC-Khatumo territories or toPuntland.[30][17] The conflict has weakened Somaliland's bid forinternational recognition, as the war and mass displacement have tarnished its image as a stable political entity.[31]
In August 2023, the Somaliland army was compelled to retreat from the environs of Las Anod after being routed during thebattle of Goojacade,[32] following which SSC forces declared a cessation of hostilities.[33] SSC-Khatumo was recognized two months later as an interim administration by the Federal Government of Somalia.[34] Somaliland has vowed to reclaim the region,[35] and a military stalemate presently holds between SSC troops and the Somaliland army on afront line 100km from Las Anod.[36] The conflict has also sparked fears of similar uprisings in other Somaliland regions with strong unionist leanings, such asAwdal in the west.[37]
In July 2025 longstanding tensions between SSC-Khatumo (which is backed by the Somali federal government) andPuntland over claims to eastern Sanaag region culminated in deadly clashes in the town ofDhahar, pitting Puntland forces against local clan militias loyal to SSC-Khatumo.[38][39][40]
During 1991, Somaliland declared an independent state within the borders of the formerBritish Somaliland. The SomaliDhulbahante clan populates the east of this territory – primarily in theSool,Sanaag andCayn regions. The Dhulbahante were opposed to the attempt to secede from Somalia and did not fully participate in Somaliland elections in protest.[41] Ideologically, the Dhulbahante were near unanimous in their rejection of secession. In 2003, Las Anod came under the control of the unionistPuntland state.[28]
During October 2007, the Somaliland army took over the city during theBattle of Las Anod against Puntland forces.[28] After coming under control of Somaliland, the Dhulbahante residents of the city experienced insecurity.[25] In particular, the Raad Peace Research Institute in Mogadishu reported that this control led to "extreme political, economic, and social marginalization and subjugation of the Dhulbahante clan," including the assassinations of more than 120 prominent community leaders and clan elites.[42]
The conflict was effectively ignited by the assassination of popular opposition politician Abdifatah Abdullahi Abdi who was shot after he left a mosque.[36][25] After his murder, students took to the streets, protesting against the Somaliland government who they believed responsible for the killing. Somaliland police fired live ammunition and gunned down protesters, killing more than twenty people and sending shockwaves through the community. Cellphone footage of the killings rapidly proliferated abroad viaFacebook andWhatsApp. Local clan militias began organizing to retaliate.[25][43] In December 2022, civil demonstrations against the Somaliland government and unrest began to spread northwest across theSool region, fromTaleh toKalabaydh,Hudun,Boocame andTukaraq.[44] Somaliland troops withdrew from the city to their Sool outposts[22] and encircled the city.[25]
Following mass protest that continued from December into January 2023, the withdrawal of the Somaliland troops paved the way for the return of the supreme Garad ofDhulbahante,Garad Jama Garad Ali – a community leader exiled from Las Anod since 2007.[23] Rumor spread of a grand meeting of all Dhulbahante clan elders, followed by speculation that the elders would vote to exile Somaliland security forces from the city.[45]
Before the war had started, most Dhulbahante commanders and their troops serving in the Somaliland security forces had already quit ordeserted. Before the fighting had broken out around 4,000 trained troops and their equipment defected.[28] In February 2023 local leaders in Las Anod declared that they would “never accept or participate in Somaliland's separatist programme” and announced their allegiance to Somalia.[36]
6 February 2023 was a decisive moment in the conflict.[28] A declaration of independence was uploaded on social media stating the regions ofSool,Sanaag andCayn rejected the rule of Somaliland.[25] Rejecting the rule of both the secessionist Somaliland and the unionistPuntland governments,[46] theDhulbahante clan elders declared their intent to form a state named"SSC-Khatumo" within the framework of theFederal Government of Somalia.[1]
Somaliland armed forces had assumed they could capture the city in a single day. At 6 am Somaliland forces stationed north of Las Anod began shelling the city.[28] Fighting broke out in Las Anod between Somaliland troops and Dhulbahante militias in the Sayadka Hill suburb, with shots heard in the streets surrounding Hamdi Hotel where Somaliland dignitaries were staying.[47] The fighting on the first day of the war was centered on Hotel Hamadi in the east of the city, and by the days end the Somaliland representatives and their forces who had still been present were driven out.[28]
On the first day of fighting 34 people were killed and 164 were injured during the Somaliland army bombardment of the city. Tens of thousands of residents fled the city and becameinternally displaced persons. The majority of businesses in Las Anod closed and most residents became unemployed.[28] The towns economy collapsed as residents fled artillery shelling.[25]
For nearly 20 days SSC and Somaliland forces clashed on the outskirts of Las Anod, engaging inhouse-to-house combat. As a result of artillery usage by both sides and the ferocity of the battle, around 150,000 people fled the city. Las Anod fell into a state ofsiege.[25] A force of around 7,000 to 8,000 SSC fighters was raised to defend the city and its environs, many of whom were from the Dhulbahante clan.[48]
During the first weeks of armed clashes, Somaliland forces stationed at the nearby base of Gojacade cut the water supply to Las Anod. Awater shortage ensued in the city that significantly impact both the civilian population and the fighters present.[28]
On 8 February, the supremeGarad ofDhulbahante,Garad Jama Garad Ali, accused the Somaliland government of genocide, called for peace and declared Las Anod's intent to self-determination and be governed fromMogadishu under theFederal Government of Somalia.[49][23] Many analysts and locals viewed Somaliland President Muse Bihi as the driver of violence. Hate speech against the Dhulbahante clan, largely inspired by Bihi, was widely spread on social media.[50]
That month several heavy battles occurred when Somaliland forces attempted to overrun SSC forces defending Las Anod. Throughout February, the Somaliland army bombarded the city with rifle fire and artillery.[28] After failing to take the city during a fierce battle on 25 February 2024, all Somaliland army units stationed in easternSool region were dispatched to the military base of Gojacade as reinforcements.[51] The fighting killed 145 and injured 1080 according to public hospital director Abdimajid Sugulle.[52] 90% of Lasanod residents were displaced, and the region produced 185,000 internally displaced people and 60,000 refugees within the first month of fighting.[53] Two weeks later on March 7th, the UNHCR reported some 100,000 refugees from Las Anod in theDollo Zone ofEthiopia.[54]
Until the end of February 2024, the fighting was between the Somaliland army and the localDhulbahante clan. Among the clans' fighters were professional soldiers who had defected from the Somaliland army and others had taken leave from thePuntland army or from theSomali National Army to join the fighting. The vast majority of defectors from the Somaliland army and other volunteers were natives of Las Anod and the surrounding countryside.[51] A number of fellowHarti-Darod (includingWarsangali,Dashiishe &Majeerteen) clans announced their support for the Las AnodDhulbahante.[55][48][56] The Dhulbahante are receiving money, equipment and fighters from their allies.[55][48]
The Somaliland army deployed approximately 28guuto (battalions) comprising 200 to 400 men around Las Anod during this period, supplemented by over a thousand armed police forces.[28] In total Somaliland forces deployed 6,000 to 8,000 troops for the operation.[51] On 2 March, the mayor of Las Anod reported that Somaliland forces were bombing public buildings from the surrounding countryside including government institutions and hospitals. The UN also reported a casualty count of over 200 deaths.[57] On March 16, Somaliland troops were reported to be shelling civilians from the surrounding area.[58] After Ethiopia requested the Somaliland army ease the bombardment, artillery shelling ceased for a time. Somaliland security forces arrested protestors who had demonstrated in other parts of the region in support of the SSC fighters. Due to fighting with Al-Shabaab and pressure from the Dhulbahante, both the regionalPuntland government and the federal Somali government have effectively stayed out of the dispute.[50] On 26 March 2023, Somaliland forces launched a major three-pronged offensive on Las Anod but failed to make any headway after fierce fighting. Their forces reportedly sustained heavy casualties. Another offensive was attempted on 31 March but also failed.[28]
Seasonal rains which began during March and grew heavier in April dampened the fighting.[28] During April 2023, the fighting began to stall and became highly sporadic.[28] By May 2023, the five hospitals in the city recorded 373 killed and 2311 injured among the local population.[47] On 7 June, the UN Security Council released a statement reaffirming its full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and unity of Somalia. They also stated, "The members of the Security Council called for the immediate withdrawal of 'Somaliland' security forces and urged all parties to exercise restraint, refrain from provocative actions, incitement to violence, and inflammatory rhetoric. This is in order to de-escalate the situation on the ground, rebuild trust, and create the conditions for peace."[59] The following day, the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement expressing their view that the UNSC was "misinformed about the facts on the ground."[60] On 11 July, Somaliland troops were reported to have shelled health facilities and public infrastructure in Las Anod, destroying 2 ambulances and causing dozens of casualties (including healthcare workers and patients).[61] TheWorld Health Organization published a press release condemning the attack on the facility and the shelling of hospitals.[62] In response, the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the statement as "disturbing" and claimed that they were fighting clan militias andAl-Shabaab terrorists, to ensure "that those in need have access to these services and other humanitarian assistance".[63]
By early August, the conflict had come to a stalemate. Around 20,000 fighters were involved.[64] On 16 August, famous Somali traditional poetAbwan Jama Kadiye was reportedly killed by a mortar shelling in Las Anod. Both Somaliland and SCC-Khatumo blamed each other for his death.[65][66] The loss of a respected poet and community member sparked outrage among the residents of Khatumo and Somalia. Some individuals within Khatumo even expressed a desire for justice and retribution in response to the incident. They indicated a potential intent to take revenge on Somaliland, given their suspicions.[66][67]
On August 25, SCC-Khatumo forces launched an attack on Somaliland forces on the outskirts of Las Anod, capturing two bases held by theSomaliland Army in Maraaga and Goojacade. After the unexpected defeat, the Somaliland forces fled, regrouping toDhodida in the northwest. SSC-Khatumo claimed this advance also resulted in the capture ofDhuxun,Xargega,Golayeedhay,Canjiid,Adhi'adeye,Samakaab,Yagoori, Wadhake, andGuumays and their respective military bases. Additionally, they claimed to have captured a substantial amount of military equipment, including severalT-54/T-55 tanks, multipleZU-23-2 anti-aircraft autocannons, eightFiat CM6614 vehicles, at least oneBM-21 multiple rocket launcher, and various undisclosed military assets. They also claimed a significant quantity of weaponry was neutralized during this operation,[5][68] as well as the commander of Somaliland Army's 12th division.[68]
The Economist reported that the Somaliland army suffered a "humiliating defeat" as a result of the war. President Muse Bihi was criticized by many for engaging in a crackdown instead of coming to a compromise.[69] Hundreds of Somaliland troops were taken asprisoners of war by SSC forces.[36] In the aftermath of the offensive, the Somaliland Ministry of Defense released a statement stating that its army withdrew from their positions in the eastern part of the Sool region for "strategic military purposes and is in the phase of reorganizing and preparing to counter the enemy." Somaliland added that some of its forces are missing after encountering difficulties in reaching their intended destinations.[70][71]
Following their victory at Gojacade, the SSC-Khatumo administration announced on 28 August 2023, the end of eight months of conflict in the Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn regions. They informed the Federal Government of Somalia, the international community, and the Somali people that the SSC had halted what they referred to as "Somaliland's war of aggression." The administration also stated that it had taken proactive measures to restore stability in the region. These efforts include a strategic withdrawal of forces from Las Anod, facilitating the return of displaced individuals, and launching social support programs. They further assured that detainees would be treated properly, with their rights respected in line with Islamic law, Somali traditions, and international standards.[33]
Following the capture of the Goojacade army base by SSC-Khatumo, in Fall 2023 the frontline shifted to western Sool, emerging between the villages ofOog and Guumays. According to theCrisis Group, this division roughly corresponded to boundaries betweenIsaaq andDhulbahante clans. In September both sides sent reinforcements to the area, raising fears of further clashes, but the new front line remained quiet.[72]
On 19 October 2023, Somalia officially recognized SSC-Khaatumo as a federal member state.[73] After August 2023 there were only brief outbreaks of armed conflict between SSC and Somaliland. During November 2023, their forces clashed in the villages ofBuq-Dharkayn andYeyle. This fighting increasingly involved militants from theHabr Je'lo sub-clan of the Isaaq, with various Somaliland politicians trying to mobilize the sub-clan to fight the SSC militias as they reside around contested territories.[74] During December 2023, Somaliland claimed it arrested spies working for Somalia, Khatumo, and Puntland authorities.[75] Somaliland and SSC-Khatumo forces continued to reinforce positions near the frontline into the end of 2023.[75]
A significant escalation in the number of Somaliland army troops being trained inEthiopia over 2024 have raised concerns that PresidentMuse Bihi is planning a new offensive aimed at conquering the land lost to the SSC regional administration during the summer of 2023. In July 2024Africa Confidential observed that Bihi may have, "...calculated that ablitzkrieg in the east could restore confidence in him among members of theIsaq clan."[76] During a public speech to the army, Bihi declared that the war would not end until Somaliland achieved victory.[46] As of August 2024, thefront line was 100km west from the city of Las Anod, where a military stalemate presently holds, and the carrying of weapons is strictly prohibited within the city.[36][77] SSC and Somaliland have still not exchangedprisoners of war, with the exception of two injured soldiers.[46] On August 28, fighting briefly broke out inErigavo District of theSanaag region.[78][79]
After a several-month long lull in major fighting, the2024 Buhodle clashes erupted between SSC andSSB Habr Je'lo militias, backed by Somaliland forces, around the town ofQoorlugud in theBuhoodle District ofCayn region from October 31 and continued into November 1, 2024.[80][81][82][83] Intense gunfire and artillery exchanges occurred during the fighting and both sides are reported to be mobilizing troops to the frontlines, further raising tensions. Daily life in Qoorlugud has been heavily disrupted and residents have been displaced by the fighting.[84] SSC claims it was attacked by Somaliland forces,[85][86][87] while the Somaliland government claims the fighting was orchestrated by theFederal Government of Somalia in order to disrupt the upcoming2024 presidential election.[88][89][90] The initiator of the fighting remains unclear, as each side accuses the other, and both have claimed victory.[91][85][81][92] The confirmed death toll as a result of the renewed fighting is over 25, with many more injured. Both parties have capturedPOWs.[93][94]
On 26 November 2024, fighting broke out in the city ofErigavo inSanaag region between Somaliland security forces and armed groups. SSC issued a statement accusing Somaliland of deliberately harming civilians in the city after gunfire was reported there on noon that day. The interior minister of Somaliland warned against any armed mobilization in the city, announced the imposition of a curfew and ordered arrests.[95][96]
On December 14, SSC-Khaatumo forces launched acoordinated assault on Somaliland positions within Erigavo.[97] Local reports indicate that the fighting concentrated in the northern and eastern parts of the city, with both sides deploying heavy weaponry. Civilians were caught in the crossfire, and hospitals in the region were overwhelmed with casualties. Somaliland forces mounted a counteroffensive on December 15, expelling SSC-Khatumo fighters out of the city,[98] with SSC-Khatumo fighters fully withdrawing by the next day.[99] Governor Muse declared victory, stating: "The army has orders to take strict action against anyone looting houses. Civilians carrying weapons will be arrested immediately."[100] According to multiple sources, the clashes resulted in "at least seven deaths and scores of injuries" among combatants and civilians.[101] TheUnited Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) later reported that nearly 43,000 people were displaced as a result of the fighting.[102]
During late December 2024, both Somaliland and SSC began taking efforts to resolve the protracted conflict between the two peacefully.[103]
On 11 January, Somaliland forces with the help of local militiacaptured theJiidali town east of Erigavo.[104]
On January 30, SSB militias clashed with SSC-Khatumo fighters in the Shangeed area, claiming to have captured SSC-Khatumo fighters and seized vehicles during the skirmish, showcasing their captives as evidence of their success in the confrontation.[105]
On March 7, heavy clashes broke out between SSB civil militias, backed by Somaliland forces and SSC-Khatumo fighters near Buqdharkayn and Yeyle, with initial reports indicating the clashes began between SSC-Khatumo forces and SSB militias before Somaliland's military later intervened.[106] The Somaliland government strongly condemned the clashes, with the spokesperson of Somaliland'sMinistry of Interior accusing SSC-Khatumo fighters of attempting to loot livestock from local herders. Somaliland also claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on the militants.[107][108] SSC-Khatumo accused Somaliland forces of starting the fighting at their military bases according to a statement.[107]
On April 18, heavy fighting broke out between Somaliland forces and SSC-Khaatumo militias in the Daanweyne and Dhuurmadare areas of the Sanaag region after SSC-Khaatumo forces allegedly launched an attack on local pastoralists,[109] with images circulated on social media showing prisoners and military vehicles allegedly captured by Somaliland forces during the fighting.[110][111][112] The Somaliland government has accused the Federal Government of Somalia of involvement in the fighting, with Somaliland Armed Forces seizing a cache of weapons bearing markings of the Federal Government of Somalia.[113][111]
On April 27, Somaliland forces and SSC-Khaatumo militias clashed between the areas of Fadhiyar and Lanhabal near the town ofOog in Sool region, resulting in two dead and three others injured.[114]
Puntland, established in 1998 as Somalia's first autonomous state, has historically administered the SSC regions based on kinship ties within theHarti sub-clan of theDarood family, (primarily Majerteen, Dhulbahante, and Warsangali sub-clans). During the conflict Puntland aided SSC-Khatumo, providing it with crucial military and logistic support.[115] After Somaliland forces withdrew from Las Anod, SSC-Khatumo leaders declared a new federal member state directly accountable to Mogadishu.[116] This alliance dissolved when the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) formally recognized SSC-Khatumo as an interim administration in October 2023, a move Puntland condemned as unconstitutional, asserting that SSC-Khatumo's creation violates Somalia's provisional constitution, which requires local referendums or clan consensus for boundary changes.[116] In April 2025, Puntland severed ties with the FGS, declaring independence until constitutional disputes are resolved. The FGS's recognition of SSC-Khatumo without Puntland's consultation ignited the current crisis, with both administrations claiming jurisdiction over SSC territories.[116][117]
SSC-Khatumo, with FGS support, claims eastern Sanaag as a component territory, but its Warsangeli-majority communities as well as Puntland (which administers said Warsangeli territory) oppose inclusion, with elders insisting the region remains "historically and constitutionally" part of Puntland.[117]
On May 24, SSC-Khatumo militia seized the border village of Shahda, prompting Puntland to deploy troops. The confrontation nearly escalated into open conflict before clan elders negotiated a temporary withdrawal. Puntland's Minister of Information, Mahmoud Aydiid Dirir, publicly condemned SSC-Khaatumo's actions, accusing its leadership of trying to carve out Puntland territory, a move he described as "unacceptable and provocative."[118]
On July 4, Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and prime minister Hamza Abdi Barre approved arms delivery to Las Anod, ahead of a federal-backed planned conference formally establishing Khatumo State, raising tensions between Puntland and SSC-Khatumo. Puntland officials accused the federal government in Mogadishu of fueling instability and undermining Puntland's regional authority.[119] Federal authorities launched a covert initiative aimed at shifting territorial loyalties in parts of the Sanaag and Haylaan regions, long administered by Puntland, toward the newly emerging SSC-Khaatumo administration.[120]
On July 5, former Puntland speaker of parliamentAbdirashid Yusuf Jibril, who advocates for eastern Sanaag regions incorporation into SSC-Khatumo, appeared in the village ofCeelbuh organizing a conference with clan elders from the Warsangeli community, aimed at rallying support for joining SSC-Khatumo.[121][122]
On July 9, traditional elders from Sanaag and Haylaan rejected SSC-Khatumo affiliation, declaring their regions "historically and constitutionally part of Puntland" and demanding an end to federal interference.[123]
On July 15, heavy fighting broke out inDhahar between Puntland forces and local clan militias loyal to SSC-Khatumo, leaving dozens of people and regional forces dead.[124] The clashes began after Puntland forces, in particular members of Puntland'sMaritime Police Force (PMPF) moved into Dhahar to dismantle newly established security checkpoints. The fierce gunfight, lasting hours, killed four soldiers and wounded ten others.[125] The fighting coincided with a clan conference currently underway in Las Anod, where members of the Warsangeli and Dhulbahante clans are discussing the formation of a new federal member state, pushed by the federal government in Mogadishu.[126] That same day the Puntland parliament voted to expel Abdirashid Yusuf Jibril days after authorities issued an arrest warrant.[127] Puntland president Said Abdullahi Deni had also previously issued a stern warning, holding the federal government responsible for attempts to incorporate Sanaag into SSC-Khatumo.[124] Somalia's Ministry of Interior urged Puntland to withdraw troops deployed to Dhahar.[128]
On July 16, Puntland Deputy Minister of Security Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed and Puntland Deputy Police Commander 1st Deputy Commander of the Puntland Police Force, Gen. Aydiid Ahmed Nur, arrived in Dhahar and held meetings with some of the traditional elders of the area.[129]
.svg)
Somalia:
Jihadist insurgent groups:Somaliland:Both sides have alleged the presence of external actors. The Somaliland foreign ministry allege they are fighting foreign armed groups on the Las Anod side including theSomali National Army,Puntland Security Force,Liyu Police andAl-Shabaab.[130][76][131] These allegations have been dismissed by experts and observers as Somaliland PresidentMuse Bihi seeking to blame his failures on outsiders.[76] Both the regionalPuntland government and the federal Somali government have effectively stayed out of the dispute.[50]
All groups accused by the Somaliland government have denied claims of involvement:
TheDhulbahante clan accuse the Somaliland side of involvingDjiboutian National Police officers and Chinese weaponry smuggled via Djibouti. The Djiboutian government denied these claims.[136]
It is unknown exactly how many people have died in all during the conflict.[29]
During the first weeks of fighting, Somaliland forces cut the water supply to Las Anod causing awater shortage that significantly impacted both the civilian population and the SSC fighters present. A sharp increase in the price of water put a heavy burden on medical/humanitarian staff operating in the area and the remaining local residents. Rains that came in March and April 2023 helped alleviate the shortage.[28]
According to the findings of an April 2023 report released byAmnesty International, Somaliland forces "...indiscriminately shelled the town, damaging hospitals, schools and mosques, killing and injuring civilians, and displacing tens of thousands of people." Mortars and107 mm rockets were utilized in dense urban areas. By April, the city general hospital had been struck four times. Women, children and elderly residents of Las Anod were among the victims of the artillery shelling. Amnesty found that Somaliland violated the prohibition ininternational humanitarian law ofindiscriminate attacks.[27]
Last year leaders in Las Anod declared they wanted to be part of Somalia instead. Mr Bihi tried to shell the city into submission, as more than 100,000 people fled from their homes, only for his army to have been forced to retreat last August.
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled the fighting. It is not known how many hundreds of people have been killed in total. The ICRC reported "widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure" in Las-Anod, the capital of the Sool region.
:172 was invoked but never defined (see thehelp page).Somaliland, on the other hand, had amassed some 6-8000 soldiers around Lasanod between Maraga (east), Gooja'ade (north) and near Hargaga (northwest), plus maybe 1-2000 armed policemen.
When local leaders in the eastern city of Las Anod rebelled last year against the government in Hargeisa, the capital, he cracked down when he might have compromised. The result was a brief civil war in which Somaliland's national army suffered a humiliating defeat. Swathes of territory around Las Anod remain under the control of SSC-Khaatumo, a rival militia-backed movement that has called for a separate statelet within a federal Somalia.
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