Erigavo, Somalia (Nomadicvoice) — Heavy fighting has broken out between SSC-Khatumo forces and Somaliland soldiers in and around the town of Goof, near Erigavo city in the southeastern part of the Sanaag region, local health officials reported. At least nine people have been killed in the past 24 hours, while numerous families have fled their homes as violence intensifies.
In a statement, SSC-Khatumo condemned what it described as a “cowardly targeted killing” of a young man from their community in Erigavo on Tuesday night. The State accused Somaliland militias of attacking Mesagan village in a move they said was intended to provoke broader ethnic conflict between the Isaaq and Harti communities, who have coexisted in the region for centuries.
“Warlord Muse Bihi vowed to cleanse what he called the enemy from Erigavo when he visited the city two weeks ago,” the SSC-Khatumo statement claimed. The group further vowed to defend their civilians if provoked.
Somaliland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia that has declared independence but is not internationally recognized, has accused former Puntland Vice President Ahmed Elmi Osman, known as “Karaash,” of instigating the conflict in Erigavo. Karaash, a key figure in the recent liberation of Lasanod, abruptly ended his trip to the Ayn region of SSC-Khatumo and announced his decision on social media following the outbreak of violence.
The Federal Government of Somalia has called for an immediate end to the renewed conflict in Erigavo. The situation remains tense, with sporadic gunfire reported and Somaliland forces deploying additional troops to the area. The crisis reportedly began after Somaliland forces killed a youth from the SSC-Khatumo region, further escalating tensions in the already volatile region.
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