Hargeisa March 9, 2023 (SD) – Somaliland government has stated that there are troops from the Somali Regional Government of Ethiopia who are among the combatants fighting against Somaliland forces in Las Anod.

During Thursday’s meeting of the Somaliland Council of Ministers, which discussed measures to address the situation in Las Anod, the foreign military presence in the city was acknowledged, with the government urging them to withdraw.

“In the Sool region, particularly in Las Anod, there are armed groups that have crossed the internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Somaliland, such as Puntland, troops trained for the Federal Government of Somalia, and troops from the Somali Regional Government of Ethiopia,” said Somaliland.

Somaliland has previously claimed that troops from the Federal Government of Somalia, Puntland, and Al Shabaab are fighting in Laascaanood, but this marks the first time that the Somaliland government has accused troops from the Somali Regional Government of Ethiopia of being involved in the Las Anod fighting.

Al Shabaab and Puntland have previously dismissed being involved in the fighting in Laascaanood.