President Rayale Leaves on Tour to Eastern Somaliland

Hargeisa (SL Times): Somaliland President Dahir Rayale Kahin left Hargeisa last night on a 3-day tour of eastern Somaliland regions.

During this trip, the President is expected to pay a long-awaited visit to Las Anod, the regional capital of Sool.

Accompanying the President are a number of key ministers from eastern regions and members of the council of Sultans. A peace delegation made up of prominent Somaliland traditional leaders, representatives of the Council of Elders as well as political organizations had returned at the end of November to Hargeisa, from Las Anod, after staying there for more than 2 months.

Originally, the delegation went to Las Anod for the purpose of mediating settlement of some long-standing disputes between tribal communities living in the area. The peace-making effort has been successful. The elders also helped avert a bloody clash between two Dhulbahante clans over a number of individuals killed from either side that included one clan leader. During their stay in the Sool region, the delegation held a series of meetings with all the traditional leaders of the Dhulbahante clans. At some of those meetings, it was believed that talks of a political nature had been held

President Rayale is expected to follow-up the progress that was already made. His mission is seen as an attempt to win over Sool traditional leaders to the side of Somaliland.

Meanwhile, Puntland’s warlord, Abdillahi Yusuf, has reportedly been massing troops at the border with Somaliland. The troop build-up was interpreted as an attempt by Abdillahi Yusuf to foil Mr. Rayale’s visit to the region.

The warlord claims parts of the Somaliland regions of Sool and Sanag.

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