LAS ANOD (SomalilandPress)—In a historic visit Somaliland President Ahmed Siilaanyo today visited the city of Las Anod, the capital of Sool, which has recently seen the assassination of government officials by insurgents. President Ahmed Siilaanyo becomes the first president to visit the city since Somaliland forces took over the city from Puntland militia in 2007. President Siilaanyo accompanied by top government officials and military commanders was general warmly welcomed by the resident of Las Anod as they escorted him to Hotel Hamdi. The region is disputed between Somaliland, the autonomous Puntland, and HBM-SSC (Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC), a local unionist group whose aim is the creation of its own regional administration (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn or SSC).
The President’s visit to Sool is seen as a morale booster for the resident of Sool region who have been complaining about the government’s lack of commitment to the region and a rise in insurgent activity that has resulted in the kidnapping and murdering of a number of regional government officials. Speaking at the Hotel Hamdi the President promised to make security a top priority. He went on to acknowledge that ; “Sool state needs development …Our government will not allow a few individuals to terrorise the resident of Las Anod who are a law-abiding and hard working citizens of Somaliland.”. In recent months the Government in Hargeisa has faced increasing criticism from a number of quarters that it is “big on rhetoric but small on action”. The issues of unemployment, disaffected youth and corruption continue to cause real concern. Before returning to Hargeisa President Siilaanyo and his delegation visited Somaliland armed forces based in the village of Gambadha on the front line of the disputed region to thank them for their efforts.
