Somali Boundaries Review Commission says it will resolve regional state boundary disputes

Somali Independent Boundaries Review Commission has said that it will resolve the border disputes between regional states in the country.

Boundary disputes have been identified as the main cause of violent conflicts between Somaliland and Puntland states, Puntland and Galmudug state, Benadir and South west state.

The chairman of boundary review team, Khaliif Abdikariin Mohamed said that they will give priority to the nagging boundary disputes between regional states.

“The commission is determined to get to the root cause of the problem,” he said.

He promised to arrange a meeting between people from disputed regional states.

The disputes, involving the states, have threatened to derail peaceful implementation of the federalization.

He pointed out that the disputes had caused bad blood between different states and that there was an urgent need for a permanent solution if they were to co-exist peacefully.

Attempts by elders to solve the protracted border disputes have failed and there have been pockets of clashes over the matter.

“There have been multiple disputes between states on boundary matters. There is, however, no established mechanism for resolution of such disputes,” Omar Abdi, traditional elder in Galkaayo said.

He said that Boundary commission will play a key role in reducing the growing number of quarrels over the boundaries as it has full authority to carry out the process.

Boundary disputes have created tension and turned violent in some cases, leading to loss of lives and property and displacement of people, the commission noted.