| Description |
An armed clash between Somaliland forces and militia loyal to the ex-Puntland Minister of Aviation Ahmed Garash who were later in the day reinforced by regular Puntland troops occurred in Gambadha and Tuqo-Raq. What triggered this incident is not fully ascertained. Several reports indicate that Somaliland forces had been deployed out of their bases to locate and apprehend the SSC group that had conducted an attack against their base in Gambadha on the night of 26/05. The clash occurred at around 14.00 and fighting extended over several hours. 3 Puntland militias were reported killed, 6 to 8 injured and 5 arrested by Somaliland. On the Somaliland side reports vary greatly from 0 to 13 killed and 2 to 9 injured, plus one vehicles destroyed and another one captured by Ahmed Garash's militias. The Puntland Minister of Information and Ahmed Garash declared the following day that their forces had been attacked by Somaliland at the check-point of Tuko-Raq in the early hours of 30/05, a statement that was refuted by the Somaliland Governor of Sool Region. Somaliland attributes the responsibility of the incident to Puntland, explaining that their forces were attacked while returning to their base. The involvement of SSC militias in this incident has not been confirmed. |
