Somaliland army fights off rebel forces

Erigavo, July 27 (Somaliland.com) Reports reaching us from Sanaag Region of eastern Somaliland indicate that there has been heavy fighting between the Somaliland military forces and the rebel forces under their leader, Colonel Aarre.

The fighting erupted at the early hours of this morning in Karin area, 13km north of Erigavo, between the two forces.

Repeated attempts by elders to mediate between the two sides to end the hostilities are reported to have ended in gridlock.

Residents said the battle started yesterday after the insurgents led by Colonel Said Awil Jama (Aarre) vacated their base in Hamas Village, northeast of Erigavo, and moved to a new settlement near Daallo mountain.

A number of casualties have been reported as a result of the clash, and it was reported that a soldier of the Somaliland Army was wounded in the face-off. The wounded soldier has since been admitted at Erigavo General Hospital where he is receiving medical attention.

Several media platforms reported that the militants took control of a major road linking Erigavo, the regional capital of Sanaag, to the coastal city of Maydh.

On Thursday, President Muse Bihi Abdi announced that a peaceful resolution of the issue of defected colonel Aarre and his armed group is near. “Of the issue of Erigavo, there is peace. We have no worry that it will be resolved peacefully. The people who gathered down there, the ones already been there, the delegates, the diaspora community, all agree that the issue to be resolved peacefully among us and that we don’t lose anything,” he said.

Colonel Saeed Awil Jama Aarre defected from Somaliland national army last year following inter-clan clashes in the Sanaag region. He based his armed group in Qardho, Puntland State of Somalia, but later relocated to the highland outskirts of Erigavo, the administrative capital of the Sanaag region.

Somaliland forces and the forces of Colonel Said Awil Jama (Aarre) have recently fought several battles in the Sanaag region and resulted in several casualties.

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