Puntland attacks Khaatumo delegates on their way to the Khaatumo III Conference

On the 27th of November, Khaatumo delegates of the civil society were attacked by Puntland militia in Boocame district of Sool, with technicals mounted with heavy machine guns. However the security forces of Khaatumo state that we escorting the delegates were able to fend of the attack of Puntland. Inside sources reveal that the Khaatumo delegates were attacked because the President of Puntland fears the Khaatumo III conference in Taleh (Taleex) will prevent him of being reelected as president, in the January election of 2014.

Khaatumo State of Somalia was created on the 12th of January 2012, in the historic town of Taleh (Taleex), and governs the SSC regions of Somalia. The SSC regions consists of the provinces of Sool, Eastern-Sanaag and Cayn (Buhoodle district), and is located between the semi-autonomous administration of Puntland and Somaliland. The officials of Khaatumo State of Somalia have been elected and endorsed by the civil society at large- including elders (Garaads/prominent elders), women’s associations, religious and business groups of the Khaatumo region.

The Khaatumo delegates have said that they are trying to elect a new president for Khaatumo state of Somalia, however the Militias of Puntland have been destabilizing and making the Khaatumo region (Sool, Eastern-Sanaag, Ayn/Buhoodle) unsafe for holding a conference. They urge the international community to stop the aggression committed by the militias of Puntland and to persuade the President of Puntland to concentrate on holding transparent and honest elections in Puntland rather than making the Khaatumo region unsafe.