Khaatumo State of Somalia voices its concerns over hiring of a private military company by Somaliland.

Nugaal Block

The militia of Somaliland has been waging an offensive war against Khaatumo State of Somalia since 2012. At the end of 2012 en beginning of 2013, the offensive against Khaatumo State and the local population by Somaliland concentrated in Hudun district of Sool province. Hudun lies on Block SL18 that has been licensed by Somaliland to DNO International, a small oil and gas company. Somaliland has also licensed block SL13to Genel Energy, however SL13 also lies in Ainaba district, a shared district inhabited by Khaatumo and Somaliland civilians.

Any oil exploration activity by Genel Energy could lead to tension between Somaliland and Khaatumo State, the hiring of a British private military company could add fuel to conflict in the SSC region of Somalia. The SSC regions consist of the provinces of Sool, Eastern-Sanaag and Ayn (Buhoodle district). Khaatumo State of Somalia was created on the 12th of January 2012, in the historic town of Taleh (Taleex).

Three Presidents were then elected for the Presidential committee of the Khaatumo State administration by the civil society at large including the 13 Garaads of the SSC regions (prominent elders), religious groups, women associations and business groups.

The administration received a mandate to govern the SSC region of North Somalia for a period of 18 months; each president would lead the Presidential Committee for a period of 6 months. Elections for a new President will be held on October 2013