The Somaliland government has committed to ensure security and calm returns to the Las Anod region where security forces had battled protestors a fortnight ago for two weeks leading to the deaths of over 20 people and leaving several others injured.
A government delegation of ministers and top state officials supported calls for dialogue between the government and local leaders of the region.
At a press conference, the minister of Cultural Information and Awareness of Somaliland Hon. Suleiman Yusuf Ali Koore said the government has taken measures to ensure security of the Sool region, by compensating for the fatalities, restraining the security forces to avoid further losses, and releasing all the people who were arrested in the demonstrations during the recent skirmishes.
They minister called on the people of Lasanood to preserve and maintain peaceful stability, they also asked the displaced persons to return to their cities.
The government also directed universities, schools, madaras and the mosques be reopened.
“The President of the Republic of Somaliland H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi has already condoled with the citizens of the violence that took place in the city of Lasanood, while the government has owned the brunt of the costs of lives lost in the fatal skirmishes,” said the minister
He further said that the government has implemented measures to restore stability, it has restrained the security forces and the community of Lasanod, and it has also released all those arrested for violence in the protests that took place in the city.
“The government, in an effort to prevent the violence from continuing, has held meetings with the Sool region’s community, traditional leaders, scholars, the 33-member committee, the local councils of Sool, Lasanood, Hudun and Taleh, all of the ministry’s coordinators and authorities. independent government bodies”.
