Somalia: There will be no new administration in SSC, Bihi says

Muse Bihi Abdi of Somaliland speaks during a news conference on October 10, 2018. Picture taken October 10, 2018. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo

HARGEISA, Somalia - The ongoing plans to form a new administration at SSC-Khatumo regions will not be recognized, Somaliland regional leader Muse Bihi Abdi has affirmed, in what could trigger yet another conflict between the two parties, which has been fighting for the last 12 months.

Sool, Sanag, and Ayn regions have been fighting Somaliland regional troops as they push to be governed from Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. However, Somaliland, the breakaway region of Somalia, maintains that the SSC-Khatumo remains part of her "territory".

At Hargeisa on Saturday during an economic forum meeting, Bihi dismissed efforts by the local community of the region to form a local administration. The teams pushing for the formation of a new administration will face consequences, he said.

"If anyone believes that it's easy to attack Somaliland, those hostile to Somaliland will face the consequences and will not be allowed to encroach upon our land," Bihi said just after a section of leaders from the troubled region met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu.

Bihi blamed the administration of Puntland whom he accused of fueling tension in the region. In most instances, Deni, who is also facing uncertainty back at home, has refused to be sucked into the conflict which has left over 200 people dead and thousands displaced.

"Taking the Puntland administration as an example, which is aggressively attempting to expand our territory, we will see whether or not they can succeed in taking our land," President Bihi asserted.

Last week, Abdikhkhadir Ahmed Aw-Ali Firdhiye, the leader of the SSC-Khatumo administration, said SSC-Khatumo will no longer send representatives to Hargeisa, adding that the region will elect its own leaders and push to be the newest federal state of Somalia.

The request was admitted by Puntland, which accused Somaliland of "meddling" in the affairs of the region. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre had held extensive discussions with Abdikhadir Ahmed Firdhiye, the leader of the SSC-Khatumo region.

Somaliland and SSC-Khatumo forces have been fighting for 12 months, in a conflict that has even triggered sharp criticism from members of the international community. The two factions have often been asked to embrace a ceasefire and solve the conflict amicably.

GAROWE ONLINE