Habaryonis sultan denounces Somaliland Army Chief’s call for Colonel Aarre’s execution

Erigavo, Aug 26 (Somaliland.com) – In a press conference held at Erigavo, yesterday, the grand sultan of Habaryonis clan of Somaliland, Sultan Mohamed Hersi Qani, condemned the call for the execution of Colonel Aarre made by the Somaliland Army chief.

The grand sultan has been at the forefront of a group of elders who have been trying to bring about a peaceful resolution to the insurgency led by Colonel Aarre.

A press conference which held yesterday saw the chief of Somaliland National Army, Major General Nuh Tani, labelling the disgruntled colonel a murderer who should be executed.

The grand sultan of Habaryonis, Mohamed Hersi Qani, said the statement of the army chief apparently was not against colonel Aarre, but rather against his clan.

He considers the remarks of the army chief irresponsible and points out that such burning words may jeopardize the peace and security of the country. Sultan Mohamed Hersi Qani concluded that he believes that the president will act against the chief if he is not in tandem with his chief of the army.

Colonel Saeed Awil Jama Aarre, a veteran Somaliland army officer, defected from the Somaliland National Army last year following inter-clan clashes in the Sanaag region. His militia group were until recently based in Qardho, Puntland State of Somalia, but later relocated to the highland outskirts of Erigavo, the administrative capital of the Sanaag region.