Somaliland Militia attacks Khatumo’s Inauguration event in Sahdheer

At approximately 5:00 a.m. this morning,  on August 28th, 2014. Somaliland Militia using heavy artillery and machine guns waged a violent attack on the city of Sahdheer _ the venue for the inauguration of Khatumo’s new Administration democratically and peacefully elected a few days ago on August 14th, 2015. Present at the Cadaad Tree Conference venue in Sahdheer were hundreds of delegates form various parts of the region including dignitaries from Somalia’s Federal Government in Mogadishu, dozens of traditional and political leaders from Galmudug, Abud-waaq and other Somali local and state administrations.

As the Khatumo’s military teams were battling to defend their land in the Dharkayn-Geyo area, a militant group of the Hargaisa led militia seemed to make their way temporarily to the outskirts of Sahdheer, However, their efforts to capture the city was short lived as they were thwarted hours later. Reports confirmed that at least half a dozen khatumo folks were killed by the Somaliland Militia while the number of injured are still unknown.

Additionally, according to Dahir Mohamed Mohamud_ event organizer and a long resident of Sahdheer, “Somaliland militia’s artillery have hit and burned a civilian home in sahdheer”, “We were peacefully conducting our conference and getting ready to celebrate more when we heard the heavy sounds gun fire, but we were almost done with our inaugurations anyways, However, many residents including women and children have been displaced and fled the city” continued Mohamud.

Khatumo Elections in Sahdheer town. Aug. 14, 2014

Meanwhile,  Khatumo’s Newly elected President Ali Khalif Galaydh went on to deliver his inauguration speech and spoke extensively over 40 minutes about his administration’s plans for the next four years in the SSC Khatumo region. Similarly, Vice President Abdul Cagalule, reiterated the need for the people of Sool Sanaag and Cayn to continue to defend their 3 year old Khatumo administration which is under constant Military attach by Somaliland forces. Despite calls by the International community to withdraw their militia from the Sool and Sanaag region, Somaliland continues to defy the international community violently attaching Khatumo city after city.

A. Hindi

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