Puntland’s Gaas holds cabinet meeting in contested Sanaag, Somaliland reacts

Puntland president Abdiweli Ali Gaas today held his first cabinet meeting in Badhan district in Sanaag which is under dispute with Somaliland sparkin immediate reaction from Somaliland.

During the meeting, the regional cabinet approved the Trade Bill. Gaas also visited government institutions in the town.

Somaliland government said in a statement the move by Gaas amounted to an ‘act of aggression from Somalia’. “It is clear that President Mohamed Farmaajo government is launching continuous fight against Somaliland,” the break-away region said.

Both Somaliland and Puntland have had long running disputes over Sool and Sanaag regions. Deadly clashes in Tukaraq village in Sool region broke out last year and early this year claiming dozens of lives and displacing scores of families.