Fighting in Somalia’s Puntland state kills at least 10

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) – Fighting between Puntland security forces and pro-opposition troops broke out in the semiautonomous state capital Garowe on Tuesday, killing 10 people and wounding several others, according to officials.

A senior security official confirmed over the phone to Anadolu the cross-fire and death toll, which included Abdifitah Warsame Rooti, the commander of Puntland’s presidential guard in the town of Qardho.

The fighting broke out amid a political dispute over a controversial amendment to the constitution, which the opposition politicians said is a bid for an “illegal” term extension by the Puntland state President Said Abdullahi Deni.

An eyewitness and businessman, Abdullahi Hassan from Garowe, told Anadolu over the phone that both sides used heavy weapons, forcing businesses to close down briefly.

“Though brief, the fighting was heavy, and some families in the town started fleeing,” he said.

The state parliament made an announcement on Tuesday, approving the amendment to the constitution. Only 35 of the 66 state parliamentarians attended the meeting.

“After a long discussion and analysis by the members of the assembly, 34 members voted in favor, one member opposed, and no one was silent, and thus the proposal to amend the constitution became valid,” said the parliament.

In a video sent to journalists, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre expressed condolences to the families of those who died in today’s fighting in Garowe.

Barre urged Punland leaders and the opposition to end the conflict “immediately” and called for dialogues to resolve the dispute.

Garowe is the capital of the northeastern semiautonomous state of Puntland, located 915 kilometers (568 miles) from the Somali capital Mogadishu.