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Puntland’s butchery in the belly of Sool Region ! (Khatumo Press Release)
By A. Hindi
September 26, 2015
(Press Release): At approximately 5:30 a.m, on the morning of Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015, as people around the Muslim world peacefully prepared for the annual festival of Eidul-Adhha, residents from the small town of Qoriley in Northern Somalia awoke to the sounds of gunfire and heavy artillery. Reports confirm that at least 16 Khatumo civilians have been killed and dozens more injured in what appears to be state sponsored terror by the military forces of Puntland. A clan militia loyal to the regional Somali State of Puntland supported by more than 35 Technique trucks with BM’s and heavy bazookas went on a rampage to kill unarmed civilians in the Khatumo city of Qoriley. Authorities in Garowe quickly publicized these heinous crimes as “inter-clan skirmishes”, justifying that their armed forces were on the hunt to take revenge on earlier clashes after a Puntland citizen has been killed in the area several weeks ago. However, Puntland’s current hostilities seem to have motivations far wider than just proxy clan warfare: the attack was timed to derail the outcome of Khatumo’s recent conference at Bali Cad and the implementation of khatumo’s sovereign decisions which is seen by Puntland as detrimental to its bogus claim on SSC regions.
Khatumo State of Somalia utterly condemns these aggressions by the state of Puntland. According to the President of Khatumo State, Dr. Ali Khalif Galayr, “This unfortunate incident was instigated by an affiliate of the Somaliland forces that illegally occupy the Sool town of Kalabaydh, killing one Puntland fellow”. Efforts by local traditional clan elders to negotiate peaceful settlements between rival clans were cut short by Puntland’s disproportionate use of force as collaborations between clan militias from Godad, Bursaalah and Galkayo along with the American trained Puntland Intelligence Services (PIS) joined forces to produce the current massacre in Qoriley.
The situation is getting out of hand as thousands of civilians continue to flee the area. Residents of adjacent rural settlements of Gumburka, Toga, and Qoriley townships are on also on the move, escaping the war in southern region of Sool. Khatumo people around the world have expressed outrage against this Puntland butchery, vowing to defend their land and their local Khatumo communities. These hostilities against the people of Sool Sanaag and Cayn will not only worsen security conditions in Khatumo State but could also expose the fragile peace and stability in Somalia.
The time has come for the International community and the regional organizations to stop Puntland’s war of aggression and clannish warfare. Khatumo State demands the immediate withdrawal of Puntland militias from the Khatumo territory of Qoriley or face serious consequences. Despite calls by the International community to withdraw their forces from Sool and Sanaag region, both Somaliland and Puntland continue their aggressions against the local communities of SSC, taking turns in the slayings of innocent Khatumo civilians. We call for the international community to intervene in any way possible including the use of force to stop this war before it causes human catastrophe of immense proportions.
Khatumo Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Khatumo Forum for Peace, Unity and Development