The Battle of Tukaraq in 2018 saw the Somaliland National Army engage Puntland forces in Tukaraq, a town in the eastern Sool region, on the road between the regional capitals of Las Anod and Garowe. The ensuing heavy clashes resulted in Somaliland ousting the Puntland army from the town. The battle was significant as it was the first time both forces clashed directly.[2][3]
| Battle of Tukaraq | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Puntland–Somaliland dispute | |||||||||
  Tukaraq Tukaraq location in Somaliland | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 3 captured as POW | 140 captured as POW | ||||||||
|
200-300 in total 2700 families displaced | |||||||||
Overview
editThe town is situated 86km west of Garowe, the capital of Puntland, a federal member state in northern Somalia. Up until the battle the town was a customs point operated by Puntland. Somaliland had earlier captured Tukaraq from Khaatumo State forces in 2012, who subsequently fled to Ethiopia. Somaliland forces then later withdrew from the town, with Puntland assuming control. Puntland and Somaliland have previously clashed in the outskirts of Tukaraq in 2011.[4][5][6]
Somalia's president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed visited the Puntland region earlier, hoping to improve strained relations between the federal member states of Puntland and Galmudug and the federal government. He was also asked by traditional elders from the Tukaraq area to visit the contested area and unconfirmed reports suggested that he intended to visit the contested Sool region.[7][8][9]
Battle
editEarly in the morning on 8 January Somaliland forces launched an offensive to capture the town. Heavy clashes ensued between Somaliland and the defending Puntland forces, with its defensive positions being overran and the town captured.[10]
May clashes
editA second and much deadlier round of clashes between both sides took place in mid-May in the holy month of Ramadan when Puntland launched a multi-front offensive in an attempt to recapture the town. After heavy shelling Somaliland repelled the offensive.[11][12][13][14]
Aftermath
editSeveral rounds of clashes of varying levels of intensity have occurred since Somaliland's capture of the town.[15]
On 3 June 2019, just before Eid ul Fitr, Somaliland and Puntland exchanged POWs captured as a result of the conflict, with Somaliland releasing 140 soldiers and Puntland releasing 3.[16]
Residents registered to vote in the upcoming Somaliland parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in May 2021. However, Somaliland lost its control over Tukaraq in 2023 over the pro-statehood mass demonstrations surrounding the Las Anod conflict.
Reactions
edit
Somalia - Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and then Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire expressed their concern over the clashes and called for an immediate halt of the conflict.[17][18]
Somaliland - In a press release, Somaliland denied provoking the clashes, and announced that the country was negotiating to defuse the ongoing conflict in Tukaraq.[20]
United Nations - UNSOM released a press conference where it expressed grave concern and called for the fighting to immediately halt and for both sides to start dialogue. A joint IGAD-UNSOM mission paid a visit to high ranking officials of both sides aimed at resolving the conflict, including Presidents Muse Bihi Abdi and Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas.[21]
References
edit- ^ a b Garowe, Online M. (2018-11-24). "Somalia: Somaliland forces take control of Tukaraq". Garowe Online. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
- ^ Hasan, Yusuf M. (2018-11-24). "Somaliland: President Bihi Inspects Troops in Tukaraq, Puntland Goes DEFCON 1". Somaliland Sun. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "Need for peaceful resolution in Tukaraq among topics UN envoy discussed in visit to Puntland and Somaliland". UNSOM. 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "Puntland oo sheegtay in ay Somaliland weerar ku soo qaadeen dagmada Tukaraq, Sool; dawlada federaalka ahna ku eedaysay in ay ku lug leedahay". Radio Daljir (in Somali). 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
- ^ "Somaliland forces seize territory in the south".
- ^ Mahmood, Omar S. "Overlapping claims by Somaliland and Puntland - The case of Sool and Sanaag" (PDF). Institute for Security Studies.
- ^ "Somalia: Somaliland forces take control of Tukaraq". Garowe Online. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "Somalia: Puntland and Somaliland forces clash in Tukaraq May 24 published /update 2". GardaWorld. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ Mahmood, Omar S. "Overlapping claims by Somaliland and Puntland - The case of Sool and Sanaag" (PDF). Institute for Security Studies.
- ^ "Somalia: Puntland and Somaliland forces clash in Tukaraq May 24 published /update 2". GardaWorld. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "Prof. Samatar oo ka hadlay dagaalka Tukaraq". www.voasomali.com. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "One killed, two injured in Burao protests against Tukaraq fighting". Goobjoog News English. 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ MENAFN. "Somaliland:President Speaks Puntland Militia Attack on Somaliland Border Town of Tukaraq". menafn.com. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "Somalia: Fighting between Puntland and Somaliland forces reignites in Tukaraq". Garowe Online. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "Somaliland, Puntland Exchange artillery in Tukaraq". Somaliland Standard. 2020-03-01. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ Mahmood, Omar S. "Overlapping claims by Somaliland and Puntland - The case of Sool and Sanaag" (PDF). Institute for Security Studies.
- ^ "Madaxweyne Farmaajo oo ku Baaqay in la Joojiyo Dagaalka Tuka-raq". www.voasomali.com. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "PM Khaire calls for end to Tukaraq clashes". Goobjoog News English. 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
- ^ xogdoonnews. "War-Saxaafadeed: Puntland oo si kulul uga hadashay Dagaalka Tukaraq | XOG-DOON NEWS - Breaking News From Somalia". Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "Akhriso: Warsaxaafadeed Ka Soo baxay Somaliland Oo Ku Aadan Shirka Brussels Iyo Tukaraq". Goobjoog News. 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
- ^ "Somalia's international partners gravely concerned over clashes near Tukaraq, call for ceasefire". UNSOM. 2018-05-24. Retrieved 2021-02-13.