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Somaliland strengthens Erigavo security after clan meeting fuels tensions
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    Monday February 3, 2025


    A high-level delegation from Somaliland addresses the media during a press conference in Erigavo

    Mogadishu (HOL) — Somaliland’s government has issued new measures to restore stability and bolster security in Erigavo and the wider Sanaag region. The measures come after recent clashes displaced an estimated 45,000 people and raised fears of renewed violence.

    A high-level delegation, including members of Somaliland’s legislative bodies, declared that only police forces would be allowed to maintain security within Erigavo, with all armed civilian groups ordered to vacate the town immediately.

    “Starting today, no unauthorized individuals will be allowed to carry firearms in the town. Any violation will be met with legal action,” a spokesperson for the delegation said, stressing the importance of enforcing the new security measures.

    The delegation also appealed to displaced residents to return, assuring them that conditions in Erigavo had stabilized. “The town is safe, and there is no reason for people to remain displaced,” the spokesperson added.

    Clashes in Erigavo erupted between Somaliland forces and SSC-Khaatumo fighters in mid-December, resulting in mass displacements and heightened tensions across the Sanaag region. Many fled to nearby areas such as El Afweyn and Lasqoray, while others sought refuge in districts including Bosaso, Las Anod, Hudun, and Burao. The conflict, rooted in territorial disputes and clan rivalries, has seen several communities displaced and critical infrastructure disrupted.

    The conflict has intensified following a recent clan conference in Badhan, where Dhulbahante and Warsangali leaders announced plans to seize Erigavo. Prominent Somaliland traditional leader Boqor Osman Aw Mohamud Buurmadow accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of orchestrating the gathering to provoke unrest, alleging that the president is using the idea of a one-person, one-vote election to justify interference in the Sool and Sanaag regions. 

     





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