The SSC-Khatuma council has on Saturday announced the cessation of trade between SSC and Somaliland following a meeting in Las Anod, the disputed town of the Sool region.
In a press release published, the SSC-Khatuma committee stated that there would be no business between SSC and Somaliland, effective from the 15th of this month. The measures will include prohibiting passenger vehicles between the two sides, making people unable to move freely.
SSC-Khatuma has also banned organizations based in Somaliland from operating in their areas and warned organizations that operate in SSC areas. The decision by traditional elders was justified by what they referred to as the invasion and massacre of Somaliland in Las Anod.
The decision will directly impact the business community in Puntland and Somaliland, as there is a significant business relationship between the two sides.
The ongoing turmoil in Las Anod began on December 26, following the assassination of a local opposition politician, Abdifatah Abdullahi Abdi, by unknown assailants, which sparked anti-government protests across the city.
A committee comprising local leaders, religious scholars, and civil society groups subsequently announced that they did not recognize the Somaliland administration. The group said it represented the interests of people in Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC) regions.
