Somaliland accuses U.S of failing to press Puntland to stop ‘fighters’ flow’

GOOBJOOG NEWS|HARGEISA: Somaliland has accused the U.S. government of failing to help in containing the fighting in the contested Las’anod town.

In a rejoinder following Washington’s call on Somaliland to withdraw its forces from Las’anod, Hargeisa said the U.S. had not made any efforts to prevail on Puntland against stopping the flow of fighters from its side.

“Despite this difficult situation, the Somaliland government’s requests for U.S. support to convince Puntland authorities to stop the flow of fighters and arms from their territory into Las’anod, or to allow local elders to engage in talks, have yet to be answered,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The U.S government had earlier called on Somaliland to withdraw its forces from Las’anod ‘as a demonstration of its commitment to these principles.’

Somaliland added that ‘armed militias have operated with impunity in Las’anod, intimidating local leaders who desire to engage in political dialogue with the government.’