HARGEISA (Somaliguardian) – Somaliland army chief Nuh Ismael Tani said on Saturday the break-away region’s troops will have no reason to sit on their hands if attacked in border dispute with the neighboring Puntland state.
The remarks came days after Somaliland troops had seized a contested border town in Sool region. Since then, Puntland authorities threatened offensive to retake the town of Bo’ame, which both sides claim to be part of their territory.
The military official repudiated allegations by the neighboring region that Somaliland authorities have links with the Al-Qaeda-aligned militant group Al-Shabaab. He added that 8 men recently sanctioned by the US for alleged ties to insurgents live in Puntland.
War of words between the neighboring separatist regions has been escalating recently, with both sides accusing the other of stoking tensions that could bring about fresh confrontations.
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