Sunday March 19, 2023
London (HOL) - The Somaliland Community in the UK held demonstrations outside the UK PM's Office on Downing Street on Saturday to show solidarit with their troops who are fighting in the disputed town of Las Anod. After six weeks of fighting, over 200 people have died, and hundreds more have been seriously injured.
The rally attracted a large number of Somalilanders from all over the UK, including many who travelled from Wales. Many demonstrators carried the Somaliland flag, banners, and placards while chanting slogans in support of the Somaliland soldiers fighting in Las Anod, the capital of Sool.
The rally was aired live on Horn Cable TV.
Local militias are fighting to separate three regions – Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn – from Somaliland and rejoin Somalia. Peace talks have been unsuccessful despite calls for a ceasefire and mediation efforts.
The UN and other diplomatic missions in Somalia, including the UK and US embassies in Mogadishu, have called for an end to the hostilities and for both sides to negotiate a peaceful resolution.
In Geneva, a smaller pro-SSC Khatumo counter-protest was held in front of the United Nations headquarters on Sunday morning.
In late February, nearly 200 Somali Americans from across the United States gathered in Washington DC to demand an end to the violence.