February 12, 2023. Lasanod – The SSC-Khatumo traditional leaders and the established Council of 33 members to oversee the affairs of the SSC-Khatumo regions convened an urgent meeting to discuss and respond to the ceasefire announced by the Somaliland Administration.
We hereby declare the following:
- We welcome a ceasefire announcement that is not based on political maneuvering and that can herald a permanent and sustainable peace in the SSC regions.
- We call upon the international community to observe and ensure the immediate withdrawal of Somaliland forces from the Lasanod region and its environs to a location from which it can no longer threaten our existence by its indiscriminate shelling.
- We demand that the Somaliland Administration officially retract the baseless and offensive claims of the presence of terrorists in Lasanod in its futile attempts to discredit our fundamental right to self-determination, and rejection of secession.
- We call upon the national Government of Somalia, regional authorities, and the international community to address the urgent needs of the people dislocated from their homes, open the supply routes for the city of Lasanod which are used by the civilian population, and to restore the health, education, utilities and other essential services damaged by the indiscriminate shelling; and that the International Community have free access to the city and send a fact finding commission.
Thank you
We urge @TheVillaSomalia to officially invite the @UN to investigate the deliberate targeting of civilians in Las Anod by the brutal Somaliland @Presidencysl_ regime. Under international law, Somaliland is part of @Somalia. The US stands ready to support.https://t.co/NidCWSGVA2
— Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. (@batten_von) February 12, 2023
