MOGADISHU [SMN] – The command of the Danab brigade of the Somali military, has distanced itself from being involved in the Lasanod conflict between SSC and Somaliland.
A brief statement from the Danab commando has completely denied reports on social media that Danab soldiers are part of the community war against the breakaway region.
“We want to underline that the Danab forces will not deviate from their purpose, nor will they participate in tribal conflicts and tribal-related issues,” said the statement issued by the Danab commander, Colonel Ahmed Abdullahi Noor (Beryare).
The statement stated that the late Mohamed Suleiman who died in the battle of Lasanod was not a member of the Danab commando and left the job in 2021 for his own reasons.
“It is important to clarify that the individual mentioned in the recently published reports, Mohamed Sulaiman, previously served as an officer in the Danab forces of the Somali military, and left the job for his own reasons in 2021,” added the statement.
Danab, which an elite force is trained and equipped by US military in Africa [AFICOM] and it was assigned for counter terrorism in the country.
The U.N. Security Council last month called for a de-escalation of violence in Las Anod, adding to similar calls from the federal government in Mogadishu.
Those calls have gone unheeded as both sides continued exchanging heavy fire.
Since the battle began in February this year, doctors in Las Anod city said more than 200 people have been killed in the fighting. Most of the victims are civilians.
