Withdraw your forces from Las’anod, US tells Somaliland

GOOBJOOG NEWS|WASHINGTON: The U.S. has called on Somaliland to pull its forces from Las’anod as the military there says it is readying to launch a major offensive to take control of the town.

The State Department said the ongoing violence in the contested region ‘will increase the potential for extremist groups to sow broader instability and further exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis.”

“We call on Somaliland to pull back its security forces as a demonstration of its commitment to these principles,” the State Department said. “We call on the militias in Lascanood to refrain from any offensive actions against Somaliland forces.”

The remarks follow Somaliland army spokesman General Abdi Dheer’s declaration last week that his forces were preparing to take over Las’anod. Since the start of the conflict, the Somaliland military has been located in Gooja-Adde area on the outskirts of the town but has been accused of shelling the town severally.

Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands more displaced since fresh fighting resumed in January.