Since the beginning of February 2023, AOAV has recorded 15 incidents of explosive weapon use in Las Anod, Somaliland, and at least 756 civilian casualties. Of these, 148 have been reported killed, and 608 injured.
This accounts for 98% of all civilians reported harmed in Somaliland since 2010, as recorded by AOAV.
Somaliland is an autonomous region in northern Somalia, which broke away and declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Though no foreign power recognises Somaliland’s sovereignty, it functions as a self-governing territory with an independent government and democratic elections.
Overall, Somaliland has been more stable than Somalia, with less armed group activity recorded in the region. However, tensions between Somaliland forces and local tribal leadership have been escalating since December last year, when protests calling for reunification with Somalia began. Early in February 2023, elders in three provinces of Somaliland – Sool, Sanaag and Cayn (SSC) – announced they wanted to rejoin Somalia. They issued a statement pledging support for Somalia’s federal government, and declared the SSC as part of Somalia, deeming the presence of the Somaliland administration illegal.
Heavy fighting, including the use of artillery shells, mortar shells, and rocket-propelled grenades, broke out on February 6. Since then, hospitals, schools, and residential areas in the city have repeatedly been shelled, reportedly predominantly by the Somaliland forces. The intensity of the fighting has ranged from long-range shelling from the Somaliland Base, to invasion tactics and urban warfare.
Overall, since 2010 AOAV has recorded 19 incidents of explosive weapons use in Somaliland, and 775 civilians harmed (148 killed, 627 injured). 54 armed actor casualties have also been recorded in the region, 50 of whom were reported killed, and four injured.
AOAV’s casualty figures represent the lowest of estimations in terms of the number of people killed and injured by explosive weapon use. In an effort to quantify the explicit harm caused by specific explosive weapons, AOAV solely records incident-specific casualty figures, as reported in English-language media.
AOAV condemns the use of violence against civilians and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. All actors should stop using explosive weapons with wide-area effects where there is likely to be a high concentration of civilians.
