Security in northern Somalia deteriorates as fighting renewed between Somaliland, Puntland

Aya Ezz

Security situation in northern Somalia has further deteriorated as heavy fighting erupted again in the past 48 hours between the armies of breakaway Somaliland and Puntland. According to a report released by the United Nations, renewed fighting has offered militant groups and outlaws the opportunity to infiltrate into the area and establish their strongholds.

Somaliland and Puntland have hand long-standing border disputes over Tukaraq district, about 1,100km northwest of the Somalia capital. The self-ruled Somaliland in northern Somalia controls most of the disputed territories. Puntiland is part of Sool region, northeast of Somalia.

The UN’s report warned that the chaos in the region has given ISIS and the al-Shabab al-Mujahideen the opportunity to launch attacks in northern Somalia. According to the Mogadishu Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, about 2000 militants linked to al-Shabab have been deployed in villages and towns in north Somalia.

Commenting on the deteriorating situation in the  region, Mohamed Ezz-Eddin, a specialist in African affairs, said that Somalia had plunged into tragic instability and chaos. In a statement he gave to The Reference, Ezz-Eddin said: “Somalia is the victim of complicated political conflicts and differences. As a result, Somalia has been vulnerable to the threat of terrorist groups.”

The researcher also said that instability in Somalia was contagious. He explained that the deterioration of the security situation in any region in Somalia would echo quickly across different regions. “This is because the outbreak of chaos encourages Jihadist groups lurking in ambush therein to pounce,” the researcher told The Reference.  He also warned chaos at the Horn of Africa was serving the devilish purposes sought by  foreign powers in Somalia and its neighbouring countries.

Ezz-Eddin’s warnings in this respect were substantiated by Khaled el-Zaafarani, an expert on Islamist movements. He said: “The ongoing conflicts in Somalia and the ensuing chaos and instability are providing fertile soil for Jihadists to deepen their territorial presence.”