Somalia: Hundreds flee from Las Anod amid rallies against Somaliland

LAS ANOD, Somalia - Hundreds of Somali residents fled from Las Anod, the capital of the Sool region following anti-Somaliland protests which led the security forces to shoot 20 people, all civilians, according to medical officials and eyewitnesses.

Las Anod has been the epicenter of protests for the last week after the death of a popular politician. The politician is believed to have been assassinated by the police upon an order from senior government officials from the breakaway region.

Residents said they fled to remote areas following the clashes and could not access food or clean water. They are now appealing for help from well-wishers, adding that there need for them to get blankets and bedding to survive the harsh conditions.

On Monday, Somaliland dispatched additional security forces to the area to counter-protestors but the situation remained calm the whole day despite rising tensions. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Puntland leader Said Abdullahi Deni have condemned security crackdowns.

So far, at least 20 people have been killed by security forces leading to endless protests. Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi has been accused of using force to tackle critics amid plans to extend his term which should have expired on November 2022 in line with the constitution.

The protests started last week in response to the local administration's failure to deal with assassinations against key figures, including politicians, academics, and religious leaders seen to be critical to the Somaliland administration.

For months, the opposition parties in Somalia have been calling for timely elections leading to persistent political wrangles in Somaliland over the two-year term extension by Muse Bihi, who has been in power since 2017.

GAROWE ONLINE